NHS Stroke Care Report Highlights Inequality and Urgent Need for Reform
A new report indicates serious shortcomings in stroke care access and treatment across England, exacerbated by NHS pressures.
A comprehensive report from the Stroke Association has revealed that NHS pressures and significant inequalities in care are resulting in poor outcomes for stroke patients.
The report, titled "Unlocking potential: a bold vision for stroke care in England," emphasizes the critical need for reform in stroke treatment and rapid response times, citing alarming statistics regarding patient access to specialized care.
The report found that only 47% of stroke patients were taken directly to a specialist stroke unit within four hours of arriving at the hospital during 2023/24, a decline from 58% a decade ago.
Delays in ambulance waits and hospital handovers, as well as insufficient imaging capabilities for diagnostics, are cited as factors impeding timely access to essential treatment.
Notably, there is a “postcode lottery” affecting stroke patients, particularly concerning access to life-saving thrombolysis treatment, which must be administered within four-and-a-half hours after a stroke occurrence.
Approximately 20% of stroke patients could potentially benefit from this treatment, yet only 11.6% received thrombolysis in the past year.
The report identified significant discrepancies in treatment access, with rates of thrombolysis ranging from 13.2% in the East of England to 10.1% in the Midlands.
Additionally, the report highlights a stark variation in thrombectomy treatment, essential for removing blood clots after thrombolysis.
The national thrombectomy rate stands at 4.2%, with London reporting a higher rate of 10.3%, in contrast to just 1.1% in the East of England.
The Stroke Association is advocating for the extended adoption of pre-hospital video triage (PVT), a technology allowing stroke specialists to communicate with ambulance teams to assess patients remotely before their arrival at a hospital.
PVT has been piloted since 2020 across 16 sites in England.
In response to the report, the Government outlined its 10-Year Health Plan, emphasizing a greater focus on disease prevention and the integration of advanced technologies in healthcare delivery.
The Stroke Association noted that approximately 90% of strokes are preventable, arguing for a fully funded prevention plan addressing risk factors such as regular blood pressure screenings.
Juliet Bouverie, chief executive of the Stroke Association, called for immediate governmental action, asserting that current NHS pressures and inequalities are detrimental to stroke patients' health outcomes.
She emphasized the importance of innovative approaches like PVT for ensuring equitable access to care.
The report suggests enhanced community care access for stroke survivors and universal 24/7 access to thrombolysis and thrombectomy treatments.
According to Professor Sir Stephen Powis, national medical director of NHS England, improving stroke care is not only vital but also presents opportunities to enhance patient outcomes.
The suggestion for reform aligns with observations from Labour MP Uma Kumaran, who highlighted personal experiences to emphasize the need for systemic change in stroke treatment protocols and accessibility.
In addition to stroke care, health initiatives are emerging in parallel concerning welfare reform in the UK. The Government acknowledges the challenges posed by a rising welfare expenditure and plans to address the inefficiencies of the current social security system.
A review aimed at reforming health and disability benefits is anticipated in the coming weeks, as stated by officials at Downing Street.
This proactive approach to both healthcare and social welfare aims to address the prevalent issues affecting citizens' wellbeing amid rising economic concerns.
The report, titled "Unlocking potential: a bold vision for stroke care in England," emphasizes the critical need for reform in stroke treatment and rapid response times, citing alarming statistics regarding patient access to specialized care.
The report found that only 47% of stroke patients were taken directly to a specialist stroke unit within four hours of arriving at the hospital during 2023/24, a decline from 58% a decade ago.
Delays in ambulance waits and hospital handovers, as well as insufficient imaging capabilities for diagnostics, are cited as factors impeding timely access to essential treatment.
Notably, there is a “postcode lottery” affecting stroke patients, particularly concerning access to life-saving thrombolysis treatment, which must be administered within four-and-a-half hours after a stroke occurrence.
Approximately 20% of stroke patients could potentially benefit from this treatment, yet only 11.6% received thrombolysis in the past year.
The report identified significant discrepancies in treatment access, with rates of thrombolysis ranging from 13.2% in the East of England to 10.1% in the Midlands.
Additionally, the report highlights a stark variation in thrombectomy treatment, essential for removing blood clots after thrombolysis.
The national thrombectomy rate stands at 4.2%, with London reporting a higher rate of 10.3%, in contrast to just 1.1% in the East of England.
The Stroke Association is advocating for the extended adoption of pre-hospital video triage (PVT), a technology allowing stroke specialists to communicate with ambulance teams to assess patients remotely before their arrival at a hospital.
PVT has been piloted since 2020 across 16 sites in England.
In response to the report, the Government outlined its 10-Year Health Plan, emphasizing a greater focus on disease prevention and the integration of advanced technologies in healthcare delivery.
The Stroke Association noted that approximately 90% of strokes are preventable, arguing for a fully funded prevention plan addressing risk factors such as regular blood pressure screenings.
Juliet Bouverie, chief executive of the Stroke Association, called for immediate governmental action, asserting that current NHS pressures and inequalities are detrimental to stroke patients' health outcomes.
She emphasized the importance of innovative approaches like PVT for ensuring equitable access to care.
The report suggests enhanced community care access for stroke survivors and universal 24/7 access to thrombolysis and thrombectomy treatments.
According to Professor Sir Stephen Powis, national medical director of NHS England, improving stroke care is not only vital but also presents opportunities to enhance patient outcomes.
The suggestion for reform aligns with observations from Labour MP Uma Kumaran, who highlighted personal experiences to emphasize the need for systemic change in stroke treatment protocols and accessibility.
In addition to stroke care, health initiatives are emerging in parallel concerning welfare reform in the UK. The Government acknowledges the challenges posed by a rising welfare expenditure and plans to address the inefficiencies of the current social security system.
A review aimed at reforming health and disability benefits is anticipated in the coming weeks, as stated by officials at Downing Street.
This proactive approach to both healthcare and social welfare aims to address the prevalent issues affecting citizens' wellbeing amid rising economic concerns.
