Innovative Solutions for Stroke Recovery Support in Wales

Stroke affects approximately 7,000 people annually in Wales and is a leading cause of disability. However, around 45% of stroke survivors report feeling abandoned after hospital discharge when rehabilitation support is critical for recovery and independence. This creates significant burden on carers, healthcare systems, and the wider economy, costing NHS Wales £220 million and the Welsh economy £1.63 billion annually. This Phase 2 Contracts for Innovation competition seeks organizations with established technologies, products, platforms, or rehabilitation approaches that can be adapted and enhanced to improve access to rehabilitation and recovery support for stroke survivors across Wales. Solutions should focus on personalized, continuous, and motivating support across home, community, and outpatient settings while addressing barriers such as geography, transport, digital exclusion, and service availability. Funding Available: £300,000 total budget supporting a portfolio of complementary projects (not a single solution). Eligible applicants should have existing solutions requiring development, adaptation, or configuration—not early-stage concepts. Projects run until 31 March 2027 and must include detailed delivery plans, testing and evaluation methods, and impact measurement strategies. Successful projects will generate evidence on patient outcomes, rehabilitation effectiveness, user experience, service impact, affordability, adoption readiness, and scalability. Applicants should also outline potential further development stages beyond April 2027, though additional funding beyond the initial award is not guaranteed. The competition uses a portfolio approach, potentially supporting multiple projects addressing different aspects of stroke recovery, self-management, service coordination, family support, accessibility, and outcomes measurement to collectively improve life after stroke across Wales.