A 44-year-old woman who suffered a stroke said she received “the best support” from a new clinic in Sheffield designed for younger patients.
Lindsay Storey, now 45, suffered a stroke in November 2024 that damaged the left side of her brain and left her struggling with balance, communication skills, and fatigue.
The former NHS worker, from Deepcar, is among a group of patients who will benefit from a “first of its kind” clinic aimed at people under 65 who have suffered a mild stroke.
Dr Amanda Jones, consultant stroke nurse, described the clinic as a “one-stop shop” for patients in this age group who may have special needs such as returning to work or caring for a family member.
The clinic, located within the University of Sheffield, is a collaboration between Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (STH) and the university.
It provides patients with a six-week post-stroke review and targets younger patients who may be higher functioning than older adults with more severe brain injuries.
Instead of being called back to the hospital for a traditional outpatient visit, these patients and their families may be offered multiple subsequent referrals, giving them access to a variety of specialists in one place.
The clinic provides access to clinicians, exercise experts and nutritionists, as well as advice from the Stroke Association.
Ms Storey said she had struggled to go out on her own and socialize since her stroke, but the new clinic had been “phenomenal”.
“I’ve had the best support from the people here and the local stroke team. They’ve been amazing,” she said.
“I think my experience here has given me the peace of mind that I am confident in what I can do.”
Mrs. Storey took her daughters to the clinic. Family participation is encouraged at the clinic. [BBC]
The clinic was first piloted 18 months ago and was fully established in October 2025 after a successful evaluation.
We provide medical treatment twice a month, and approximately 100 patients visit our clinic each year.
Jones said it provides a more “holistic” experience for patients and their families.
“If you have a stroke at a young age, you have a higher risk of having it again, so it’s important that we give patients the tools to change their behavior and actually reduce their risk of having a stroke again,” she said.
“It takes a little time, but it’s a one-stop shop.
“So they’re going to see a specialist dietitian, they’re going to see me for the medical aspects, they’re going to see an exercise specialist, they’re going to see the Stroke Association who can deal with things like benefits and alternative forms of employment if they can’t go back to work.”
Professor Judy Clegg from the University of Sheffield said the clinic was a “fantastic collaboration” with STH as it also gave students the opportunity to learn from relevant experts.
According to the Stroke Association, about a quarter of strokes occur in people of working age.
This occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off, destroying brain cells and affecting how the body functions.
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