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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| NHS stroke plan 'will save lives' | NHS stroke plan 'will save lives' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The government is promising its 10-year stroke strategy for England will save thousands of lives by ensuring people get quicker access to care. | 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 more awareness, fast diagnosis through brain scans and immediate access to drugs. | Ministers will call for more awareness, fast diagnosis through brain scans and immediate access to drugs. |
| They believe these measures can save 6,800 deaths and cases of disability and prevent 1,600 strokes. | They believe these measures can save 6,800 deaths and cases of disability and prevent 1,600 strokes. |
| A £105m pot has been set aside for training and awareness campaigns, but critics said the plans were overdue. | 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. | 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' | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| 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. |
| Scans | Scans |
| 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. | 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, the strategy predicts. | 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 | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| And the strategy also demands stroke victims be provided with good quality rehabilitation services. | And the strategy also demands stroke victims be provided with good quality rehabilitation services. |
| 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. | 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 no excuse for standing still." | "There is no excuse for standing still." |
| And government stroke tsar Professor Roger Boyle said: "There is a huge momentum to put this right." | And government stroke tsar Professor Roger Boyle said: "There is a huge momentum to put this right." |
| Jon Barrick, chief executive of the Stroke Association, added: "This is a momentous opportunity to transform the outcomes and lives of stroke survivors." | Jon Barrick, chief executive of the Stroke Association, added: "This is a momentous opportunity to transform the outcomes and lives of stroke survivors." |
| Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley welcomed the strategy, but said the government has been too slow to act. | Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley welcomed the strategy, but said the government has been too slow to act. |
| "It has taken the government years to produce a stroke strategy. This is a scandal." | "It has taken the government years to produce a stroke strategy. This is a scandal." |
| Lib Dem health spokesman Norman Lamb said: "Ministers have to make sure that the good ideas are actually implemented." |