Volunteer stroke scheme for dysphasic patients with stroke.

The needs of the dysphasic patient with a stroke, in whom the effect of physical damage is so often intensified by loss of morale, are well recognised. Both the numbers who survive and the long periods for which support is needed create a problem that is unlikely to be relieved without help from the community. A pilot scheme using untrained volunteers working within a responsible organisation and co-operating with professionals was sponsored by the Chest and Heart Association* in 1973. The results of the first 16 months' work with 31 patients were reported in 1975.1 Since then the scheme has spread to 33 areas throughout Britain and by April 1980 had included 1013 patients and over 2000 volunteers. This report refers to 552 patients in the first five years of the scheme.