Impact Review 2025/26: 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 their highlights from 2025/26.

3rd July 2026

Mobilising system change for patient benefit

Building on the 2023 continuing professional development event focused on supporting stroke survivors to return to work, the HIT brought together healthcare professionals from across the stroke pathway to strengthen joint working.

This collaboration led to the pilot of two six‑week training programmes in 2025 to support people returning to work after stroke. The courses were led by Helen Ellis (Sirona Community Stroke Service), with partners including the Stroke Association, Bristol After Stroke and the Department for Work and Pensions. Positive feedback from participants has resulted in an ongoing commitment to deliver two group programmes each year.

The HIT shared learning from this work at the UK Stroke Forum in Aberdeen in November 2025. It was also presented at the regional vocational rehabilitation community of practice, leading to invitations to present at the national event and to the Stroke Board on wider developments across the stroke pathway.

Sharing learning and influence

Claire Angell and Emma Richards gave a talk at the Bristol Health Partners Conference 2025, demonstrating how lived experience informed improvements to the local stroke treatment and recovery pathway.

Claire also attended the European Life After Stroke Forum in March 2026, presenting a poster on the work of the HIT.

The HIT continues to engage with communities through local health events and Life After Stroke sessions, which remain consistently well attended.

Training and education

Many people affected by stroke experience continence issues. In November 2025, the HIT worked with the Bladder and Bowel Confidence (BABCON) HIT to deliver a multiprofessional study day focused on continence after stroke.

More than 60 delegates from acute, rehabilitation and community stroke services attended, supporting shared learning and strengthening links across services.

Strengthening connections with researchers

The HIT continues to build enthusiasm and capacity for research, supporting closer links between health and care professionals, researchers and people with lived experience.

In July 2025, the HIT hosted a stroke research workshop at Bristol Robotics Laboratory, Almost 50 participants from the NHS, universities and charities across the region came together to learn about current research, share updates and build new connections.

In March 2026, the Laboratory welcomed the Stroke Lived Experience Group. Researchers received valuable input on the co‑design of self‑management tools, smart walking aids and socially assistive robots to support rehabilitation.

These connections provide a strong foundation for future collaboration and research shaped by meaningful lived experience involvement.