My name is Martin Quinn, and I am a stroke survivor. The stroke occurred while I was doing an interview on local radio and left me unable to answer the interviewer’s questions in a coherent manner. It resulted in me having to spend many months in rehabilitation before I regained my speech and the full use of my affected limbs. The life-changing incident left me with a desire to advocate on behalf of stroke survivors, and I have been very active with the Irish Heart Foundation (IHF) in telling others about my experience and in advocating for better services for those living with the effects of stroke.I am passionate about the need for all patients with a stroke to have immediate access to a stroke unit and for them to remain there throughout their hospital stay. I, along with my colleague Dr Rónán Collins and Mr Chris Macey of the IHF, also highlighted to the Minister the need for a new stroke awareness campaign to increase awareness of stroke symptoms; speedy access to acute treatments such as thrombectomy; and availability of, and access to, the Early Supported Discharge service, which is an international model of best care for patients with a stroke. I am very pleased that these are included as some of the key recommendations in the Irish National Audit of Stroke (INAS) report for 2019. I am delighted to be a member of the INAS Governance Committee, representing and advocating for patient and public interests in stroke care.
Patient / Public Interest Representative, INAS Governance Committee
