By Vivienne Russell
3 February 2010
Stroke care standards have improved and awareness of the condition has been heightened, but progress has not been universal, government auditors said today.
The National Audit Office praises the Department of Health’s National Stroke Strategy as a ‘comprehensive response’ to concerns expressed in 2005 about stroke’s low priority in the NHS.
The NAO says the strategy has been underpinned by strong national leadership and performance indicators, while all relevant hospitals in England now have a specialist stroke unit.
Patients treated in a specialist unit are more likely to survive, experience fewer complications and regain their independence. Auditors estimate that stroke patients’ chances of dying within ten years have reduced from 71% to 67% since 2006.
But there were concerns that a majority of stroke patients are not admitted to a specialist unit promptly. The report also criticised health and social care for not working as well together as they could. One-third of patients did not receive timely follow-up appointments, and only half of those surveyed by the NAO said they were given further advice on stroke prevention on being discharged from hospital.
NAO head Amyas Morse said: ‘The poorer performers must be dragged up to the same standard as the best, so that the gains that have been made are sustained and value for money improved further.
‘The department should focus on ensuring that health, social care and employment services are working together much more effectively.’
Responding, Nigel Edwards, policy director of the NHS Confederation, said: ‘To move everyone up to the standard of the best, it is worth revisiting the incentives in the emergency system so that services are measured on the basis of the best outcomes and clinical processes for patients, rather than only on ambulance response and emergency department waiting times.’
