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The Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme (SSNAP) measures the quality and organisation of stroke care across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The overall aim of SSNAP is to provide timely information to clinicians, commissioners, patients and the public on how well stroke care is being delivered. Processes of care are measured against evidence-based quality standards referring to the interventions that any patient may be expected to receive. This report presents data from more than 91,000 patients admitted to hospitals between April 2022 and March 2023 and submitted to the audit, representing over 90% of all admitted strokes in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. This data is summarised in key messages for both those who provide and those who commission stroke care in hospitals and the community, and presented in tables and charts.

The National Clinical Guideline for Stroke for the UK and Ireland provides authoritative, evidence-based practice guidance to improve the quality of care delivered to every adult who has a stroke in the United Kingdom and Ireland, regardless of age, gender, type of stroke, location, or any other feature. The guideline is intended for: Those providing care – nurses, doctors, therapists, care staff. Those receiving care – patients, their families, their carers. Those commissioning, providing or sanctioning stroke services. Anyone seeking to improve the care of people with stroke. The guideline is an initiative of the Intercollegiate Stroke Working Party.

Christoph Diener, from the faculty of medicine at the University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany, reports on the latest publications from the European Stroke Organisation on the management and prevention of stroke, including: managing blood pressure in the first 24 hours space-occupying brain infarctions the new guidelines on transient ischaemic attacks and minor stroke treatment options for patients with carotid stenosis rare thrombosis complications following COVID-19 vaccinations.

Stroke is a serious life-threatening medical condition that occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off. It is the fourth largest cause of death and the leading cause of disability, with almost two thirds of stroke survivors leaving hospital with a disability in the UK.

Thrombectomy is a game-changing treatment for stroke. It changes the course of recovery from stroke in an instant, significantly reducing the chance of disabilities like paralysis, visual impairment and communication difficulties. It is also extremely cost-effective. Rolling out thrombectomy fully could save the UK £73 million a year, by reducing demand for rehabilitation and community support services.  But thrombectomy isn’t currently available for everyone who needs it (~10% of all stroke patients). The treatment is subject to a postcode lottery and in 2020/21, nearly 80% (5,889) of patients in England who needed a thrombectomy missed out. This report from the Stroke Assoication features some of the amazing people working tirelessly to improve outcomes for stroke patients, under challenging circumstances and often at a personal cost. And most importantly, it shows how truly life-changing thrombectomy can be for patients. The Stroke Association hopes this report will galvanise action at government and ICS levels that will benefit both stroke patients and professionals. They must urgently secure access to a 24/7 thrombectomy service, for every stroke patient who needs.

The Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme (SSNAP), which assesses the care provided for patients during and after they receive inpatient care following a stroke, has published its ninth annual report. Based on data from April 2021 to March 2022, the report aims to identify which aspects of stroke care need to be improved with a particular focus on changes in stroke care over the last two years and the ‘roads’ that need to be followed in order to restore the quality of care. SSNAP measures the process of care against evidence-based quality standards referring to the interventions that any patient may be expected to receive. These standards are laid out in the latest clinical guidelines and include: whether patients receive clot busting drugs (thrombolysis). interventions for clot retrieval (thrombectomy). how quickly they receive a brain scan. how much therapy is delivered in hospital and at home.