A West Norfolk MP has revealed how his father’s death following two strokes inspired him to campaign for improvements to local health services.
South West Norfolk MP Terry Jermy shared his family’s experience to mark World Stroke Day yesterday (Thursday).
His father suffered a severe stroke without warning in 2013, when he was just 55, and lived with its effects for the next ten years.
Mr Jermy said his family struggled to access rehabilitation and support while coming to terms with what had happened.
In December 2022, his father was diagnosed with pneumonia and Covid and placed in a medically induced coma, during which he suffered a second stroke.
He never recovered and died in January 2023, aged 65.
Mr Jermy said: “As a family, we were forced to navigate our healthcare services, had to push at every step of the way for rehabilitation and support, and spent weeks filling out form after form, all whilst trying to be there for our dad and each other, whilst navigating our grief at what had happened.”
He said the experience was one of the reasons he decided to stand for Parliament, believing other families across South West Norfolk had faced similar difficulties.
The MP also raised concerns about stroke rates in South West Norfolk and the performance of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and East of England Ambulance Service.
He said he had been working with government departments to improve stroke awareness, prevention, rehabilitation and support, particularly for people living in rural communities.
Mr Jermy also thanked the Stroke Association, which attended his South West Norfolk farming conference last week and is expected to take part in a health conference he is planning for early next year.
Image: Terry Jermy with his father. Image provided by Terry Jermy MP.
