Impact Review 2024-25: Stroke HIT

The Stroke Health Integration team (HIT) works to prevent strokes and improve the lives of people affected by stroke, by bringing together clinicians, commissioners, academics, care and support providers and other healthcare professionals, as well as patients, their families and carers. Here are highlights of their work from 2024-25.

19th July 2025

Supporting stroke patients with vision impairment

The HIT’s Education and Training workstream delivered a hugely successful ‘Visual Impact after Stroke’ study day. This was attended by 60 registered healthcare professionals and also brought together patients, partners from support services and the voluntary sector.

Through presentations and breakout sessions, delegates learned and discussed with others how best they can support individuals whose sight has been affected by stroke. Topics covered included current national guidelines, how to screen for visual impairment and driving post stroke, and stroke survivors shared their lived experiences with delegates.

Piloting return to work rehab course for stroke survivors

Building on the success of its CPD event in 2023 on helping stroke survivors return to work, the HIT established a working group to link up healthcare professionals across the pathway. Together that have now developed a 8-week pilot multidisciplinary training course for stroke patients returning to work, which is taking place in 2025.

Launching an educational film for students and researchers

The HIT’s Lived Experience Group instigated the development of a film which offers students and researchers’ advice about communicating effectively and sensitively with stroke patients, their carers and families. The film is a joint venture developed with support from UWE Bristol.

Sirona has added the film to all stroke-based teams’ ARC profiles and embedded it into its online student workplace area. It has also been watched on YouTube more than 600 times since it was released in early 2025.

Attending community events

Lived Experience Group Chair and HIT co-director Claire Angell has represented Bristol Health Partners and the HIT at several diverse community events alongside Bristol After Stroke, to raise awareness of stroke symptoms, diagnosis and support.

New leadership team members

Claire Fullbrook Scanlon, who is the Chair of the HIT’s Education and Training workstream, has been appointed as a new HIT co-director.

The HIT has also reinvigorated its Research and Innovation workstream. Nigel Harris, a visiting Professor at UWE, chairs the workstream, and he is supported by HIT members representing acute care, research, allied health and patients.