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Call for stroke care improvements NHS stroke plan 'will save lives'
(about 2 hours later)
The government is to launch its 10-year stroke strategy for England by promising to save thousands of lives. The government is promising its 10-year stroke strategy for England will save thousands of lives by ensuring people get quicker access to care.
Ministers will call for better awareness among the public and health professionals as well as faster access to care, particularly brain scans. Ministers will call for more awareness, fast diagnosis through brain scans and immediate access to drugs.
They will acknowledge that while services have got better, they have not kept pace with improvements seen in cancer and heart care. They believe these measures can save 6,800 deaths and cases of disability and prevent 1,600 strokes.
Campaigners said change was needed as care was currently a "matter of luck". A £105m pot has been set aside for training and awareness campaigns, but critics said the plans were overdue.
Many have argued - and the government accepted - that improvements in stroke care have not kept pace with the developments seen with cancer and heart disease services.
STROKE STRATEGY: IN BRIEF Immediate access to brain scans, and clot-busting treatment if necessary, for people who have had strokeMRI scans to be available for people who have mini-strokes to assess risk of a full one in futureA £12m fund to run awareness raising campaignsMoney set aside for training of doctors and nurses to staff specialist units 'Quick scan could have been vital'
Strokes are the third biggest killer - behind cancer and heart disease - responsible for 50,000 deaths a year.
But despite increases in funding in recent years, death rates still lag behind most of Europe.
One of the key problems is that less than half of patients receive brain scans within 24 hours to confirm they have had a stroke, according to the Stroke Association.
The strategy says it is time to "close the gap" on heart and cancer services.
Strokes happen when the blood supply to parts of the brain is interrupted, either through a burst blood vessel, or a vessel blocked by a blood clot.Strokes happen when the blood supply to parts of the brain is interrupted, either through a burst blood vessel, or a vessel blocked by a blood clot.
For too long stroke has been a low priority for government and health providers Joe Korner, director of communications at the Stroke Association 'Quick scan could have been vital'
They are the third most common cause of death, accounting for 50,000 deaths a year.
The strategy will say "now is the time to close the gap" on heart and cancer services.
Some 97% of hospitals have a stroke unit - something which was unheard of 10 years ago.
But ministers will say there is much more that can be done over raising awareness and ensuring faster access to emergency care.
A £12m campaign is to be launched to help people identify the symptoms of stroke - weakness in the face and arms, and speech problems.A £12m campaign is to be launched to help people identify the symptoms of stroke - weakness in the face and arms, and speech problems.
ScansScans
And the strategy will demand the NHS provides fast access to MRI scans for those suffering mini strokes, known as transient ischaemic attacks, which are a good indicator a person will at some point have a full stroke. And the strategy has demanded the NHS provides fast access to MRI scans for those suffering mini strokes, known as transient ischaemic attacks, which are a good indicator a person will at some point have a full stroke.
Those from high risk groups, determined by analysing factors such as age and blood pressure, should have scans within 24 hours of the symptoms, while those with a low risk should get one within seven days.Those from high risk groups, determined by analysing factors such as age and blood pressure, should have scans within 24 hours of the symptoms, while those with a low risk should get one within seven days.
Only a third of those who suffer mini strokes get MRIs within seven days at the moment.Only a third of those who suffer mini strokes get MRIs within seven days at the moment.
This measure alone could lead to an 80% reduction in the numbers who go on to have a full stroke. This measure alone could lead to an 80% reduction in the numbers who go on to have a full stroke, the strategy predicts.
This is a momentous opportunity to transform the outcomes and lives of stroke survivors Jon Barrick, of the Stroke Association
And for those who have full strokes, a brain scan should be done immediately to determine whether clot-busting drugs are required.And for those who have full strokes, a brain scan should be done immediately to determine whether clot-busting drugs are required.
But Stroke Association data showed that only 42% of patients receive a brain scan within 24 hours to confirm their diagnosis with wide variations in performance across regions. All local areas should have access to a 24/7 specialist stroke unit with money being made available to train more staff to run them.
The strategy will say if all these measures were to be introduced up to 6,800 deaths cases of disabilities could be saved and 1,600 strokes averted. And the strategy also demands stroke victims be provided with good quality rehabilitation services.
Professor Roger Boyle, the government's stroke tsar, said: "We spend more than most of our European neighbours on stroke, but do not get the front end right. Health Secretary Alan Johnson said: "This is a bold vision for delivery of world-class stroke services, from prevention right through to life-long support.
"There is a huge momentum to put this right." "There is no excuse for standing still."
Joe Korner, director of communications at the Stroke Association, said: "For too long stroke has been a low priority for government and health providers. And government stroke tsar Professor Roger Boyle said: "There is a huge momentum to put this right."
"Current stroke care is a matter of luck and postcode and we are looking for the Stroke Strategy to change this." Jon Barrick, chief executive of the Stroke Association, added: "This is a momentous opportunity to transform the outcomes and lives of stroke survivors."
And shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said the NHS was lagging behind the rest of Europe on death rates. Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley welcomed the strategy, but said the government has been too slow to act.
"Ten years on and stroke services have not been a Labour government priority. "It has taken the government years to produce a stroke strategy. This is a scandal."
"This is a scandal considering that stroke is the third cause of death and the leading cause of adult disability in this country."
Have you been affected by this story? Should access to care and scans be improved? Should more be done to raise awareness of the condition? Send us your comments using the form below:Have you been affected by this story? Should access to care and scans be improved? Should more be done to raise awareness of the condition? Send us your comments using the form below:
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