Age Scotland calls for urgent action as almost a third of stroke patients miss out

Age Scotland is calling for the Scottish Government and NHS boards to urgently improve care for stroke patients as new figures show almost a third do not get the prompt care they need.

Every one of Scotland’s NHS boards failed to meet Scottish Government targets last year to give 80 per cent of patients “appropriate care”.

The Scottish stroke improvement programme found that only 68 per cent of patients received care meeting the guidelines, including hospital admission within one day, a brain scan within 24 hours, screening tests within 4 hours and aspirin being provided within a day.

In NHS Highland, more than half of patients (48 per cent) did not receive appropriate care, while Dumfries & Galloway (63 per cent) and Lothian (64 per cent) were also among the worst performing.

Adam Stachura, Head of Policy with Age Scotland said: “It’s a significant cause for concern that not a single NHS board met the targets last year. We urgently need the Scottish Government and NHS boards to come up with a plan to address these figures and ensure every stroke patient gets the care they need.

“Stroke is the third biggest killer in Scotland and a leading cause of disability, and our risk increases as we get older. Getting swift treatment is absolutely essential to minimise the long-term effects and even reduce the risk of death.”

People are most likely to have a stroke over the age of 55, and one in five women and one in six men will have one in their lifetime.

Although survival rates are improving, it is a leading cause of death and disability. Age, medical conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes, family history, and lifestyle factors, such as diet and alcohol consumption, all increase the risk.