The Secretary of State for Health today announced the Government’s new strategy to improve stroke services. The key aims of this strategy are to accelerate the emergency response to stroke, by setting out a framework for care for those affected by it and raising awareness about symptoms and risk factors.
Doug Naysmith, MP for Bristol North West, has experienced the effects of stroke first hand and knows how important fast and accurate treatment can be. He said: “Stroke has historically been poorly understood, with many people not knowing what a stroke is, the warning signs of an attack or how it can be prevented.”
Among key measures announced today are:
• Immediate transfer of those with suspected stroke to a specialist centre offering urgent clinical assessment, scans and clot-busting drugs. All local areas will have 24/7 coverage by at least one specialist centre.
• Those with stroke requiring urgent brain imaging must be scanned within the next scan slot during normal working hours, and within 60mins out of hours.
• People affected by stroke and their carers should have immediate access to high quality rehabilitation and support from stroke-skilled services in hospital, allowing people to get home faster. This specialist care should continue for as long as it is needed.
Another key measure announced today is that MRI scans must be available within 24 hours for those patients with Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA) – also known as ‘minor strokes’, who are at higher risk of stroke.
In addition to this, the Government has committed central funds totalling £105m over three years to provide national support for improving stroke services.
Doug Naysmith MP stated: “I fully support the stroke strategy and am delighted that the measures proposed for TIA, once implemented, could lead to an 80 per cent reduction in the number of people who go on to have a full stroke. Progress has long been needed in this field and I hope that this strategy marks the beginning of significant improvements to the prevention of stroke and the care of stroke patients.”
“I shall be asking the local PCTs and Acute Trusts about how soon they can begin implementing the new strategy.”
