Stroke victim launches new campaign to improve support

Published on Thursday 20 November 2008 09:09

GRAHAM MCGUIRE travelled the world lecturing to some of the richest men and most brilliant students.

Work was his life, and he was regarded as one of the leading lights in maritime studies.

But that changed forever when, at the age of 53, he suffered a stroke which rendered him unable to speak, read or write.

From being regarded as an expert in his field, he found he was being offered glasses of milk in pubs by bartenders who thought he was a sympathy case. People he asked for help in the street would accuse him of being drunk.

Now, ten years on, the Morningside man is rebuilding his life piece by piece, and has regained the ability to communicate.

He is behind the launch of a multi-agency campaign to improve the services offered to stroke victims once the clinical treatment is over.

The 64-year-old, who is former deputy principal of the old Leith Nautical College and went on to set up Strathclyde University's Centre for Advanced Maritime Studies, was in New York when he suffered a cerebral haemorrhage.

"Following that I was unable to communicate completely, and had to gradually relearn how to read, write and speak," said Mr McGuire, who lives with his wife Grace.

"I was one of the lucky ones because I had tremendous family and friends around me, but for a lot of people that is not the same."

He said greater public awareness was needed so future patients did not encounter the same prejudices he did.

"I remember going to a pub when I was in a wheelchair for a brief time and being offered a glass of milk – I said no thanks, I'd much rather have a whisky thanks very much.

"That's the kind of thing that happens. I had trouble reading and used to get on the wrong bus because, even though it would be right there in front of me, I just couldn't process it. If I asked someone they would just think I was mad or drunk."

In some ways those who physically recover well from a stroke are even more disadvantaged on the communication front.

"Often doctors will have a look at you, say you're fine and send you home, and that's it. If you don't have close family or friends, you have nothing, and you would just stay inside all day," he said. "If you're in a wheelchair because of it they pay a bit more attention."

Charities such as Chest, Heart, and Stroke Scotland, the Stroke Association, the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) and Speakability say there is a drastic shortage of speech therapists.

This means patients are left isolated once they leave hospital, often unable to do even the simplest things for themselves because of a lack of communication ability.

The campaign was launched at Holyrood last night to pressurise ministers to make extra cash and resources available.

RCSLT's policy officer Kim Hartley said a new survey found three-quarters of stoke sufferers experienced communication problems.

She said: "The survey clearly tells us what these people want to say – they want more and better integrated statutory speech and language therapy and voluntary communication support services in hospital and the community.

"Beyond that direct support, they want communication accessible public services."

Mr McGuire, meanwhile, is well on the road to recovery, and apart from periods of tiredness, is physically in good shape. His speech is good if he keeps conversations short, and his reading and writing has improved.