To ask the Minister of Health what his Department is doing to reduce the level of mental health issues experienced by stroke survivors.

Access to psychological care is an important element of stroke treatment. All members of the stroke multidisciplinary team should be trained and engaged in supporting those with psychological problems following stroke. Each Health & Social Care Trust in Northern Ireland has a funded stroke specialist clinical psychologist to deliver direct patient care and support other multi-disciplinary team members.

Stroke survivors can be also be referred to the emotional support service ‘STEPS’ delivered by the Stroke Association in Northern Ireland.

Stroke survivors who experience other mental health conditions can be treated by primary care, secondary care stroke physicians or referred to mental health services if required.