New toolkit and webinar to support visual impairment post stroke

A significant proportion of patients experience visual impairment post stroke. However, Greater Manchester, like most other regions, does not offer consistent diagnosis and treatment of VI by our stroke services.

The National Clinical Guideline for Stroke (2023) recommends that people with stroke should receive timely, standardised vision screening by appropriately trained professionals, with specialist input from orthoptists or ophthalmologists where deficits are identified. Visual problems should be managed through multidisciplinary assessment and treatment to maximise safety and independence.

In 2022, a collaboration of the network, Stockport NHS FT and Henshaws, a sight loss charity, were awarded substantial funding to develop a new care pathway for patients treated by Stepping Hill stroke service.

We have developed a service improvement toolkit based on this experience which we have just launched via a webinar attended by 70 people. You can download the toolkit, webinar slides and associated resources from our webpage.