Declining standards of care for stroke patients must be reversed, says charity
Ministers are being urged to improve declining care for stroke patients to lower the risk of death and disability as new figures show rising cases, especially among people in their 50s.
Thousands of stroke patients are missing out on appropriate treatment and rehabilitation, the standards of which have worsened over the past decade, the Stroke Association has said as it publishes the latest figures from the Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme (SSNAP), the nation’s biggest stroke data audit covering England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Separate NHS England analysis paints a picture of a healthcare system under increasing strain, as the number of people being admitted to hospital after a stroke has risen by 28% in the last 20 years. This included a 55% rise in admissions among people aged 50-59, bringing the number to 12,533 in 2023-24 – the highest increase among any age group. The rise is understood to be fuelled by obesity, poor diet and sedentary lifestyles.
The Stroke Association said that innovative treatments, such as thrombectomy, and basic care, such as hospital rehabilitation, are still being delivered inconsistently across different regions.
Juliet Bouverie, the chief executive of the Stroke Association, said: “The NHS stroke pathway has long been at crisis point. The recoveries of too many stroke survivors are being put at risk due to a lack of staff, spiralling waiting times and a lack of basic stroke care provision which compromises – rather than optimises – patient recovery.
“Governmental change is long overdue, and the 10-year health plan is an ideal opportunity to ensure everyone who has a stroke can survive and live well.”
Source: The Guardian, 18 November 2024