Evaluating the accessibility of exercise referral schemes to stroke survivors in England: A census of local authorities

The study evaluated the accessibility of exercise referral schemes for stroke survivors in England through a survey of 317 local authorities, with 147 participating. Exercise programmes were available in 134 local authorities and stroke survivors had access in 128 of them, however stroke-specific programmes existed in only 17 local authorities. The research identified significant variations in the design and delivery of these programmes across different regions. The only consistency found was the involvement of fitness instructors and the absence of transport services. The capacity of programmes did not correlate with population size, number of stroke survivors, or stroke prevalence in individual areas. Low participation of stroke survivors in these programmes may be caused by the lack of specialized services, varying eligibility conditions, and missing transport provision.