Archive
-
December 2007 (25)
-
November 2007 (25)
-
October 2007 (28)
-
September 2007 (25)
-
August 2007 (18)
Subscribe
Health News RSS feed
Health News
'Bold vision' for stroke services
Plans to transform stroke services have been unveiled by health secretary Alan Johnson today.
The new National Stroke Strategy is being backed by £105 million and includes plans to improve training for health professionals, as well as raising public awareness about stroke symptoms.
Key measures laid out in the strategy include the immediate transfer of patients with suspected stroke to a specialist centre, with all local areas having these centres available 24 hours a day. The strategy also proposes immediate access to high-quality rehabilitation and support for people affected by stroke.
New guidelines state that anyone at high risk of stroke who suffers a minor stroke should receive an MRI scan within 24 hours, while those at lower risk should receive an MRI scan within a week.
It is claimed that up to 6,800 deaths and cases of disability could be avoided every year if the actions set out in the strategy are followed, with up to 1,600 strokes averted through preventative work.
Alan Johnson said: 'This is a bold vision for the delivery of world-class stroke services, from prevention right through to life-long support. There is no excuse for standing still.'
Jon Barrick, chief executive of the Stroke Association, welcomed the plan: 'This is a historic time for stroke - no longer will stroke be seen as an inevitable, untreatable consequence of old age. This is a momentous opportunity to transform the outcomes and lives of stroke survivors in this country.'
The new strategy comes after UK stroke care was strongly criticised in the British Medical Journal in August.
Category: Healthcare
Latest News Stories