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STV News
5 days ago
- Health
- STV News
The Scottish Government has 'failed' stroke survivors, says charity
The Scottish Government has failed stroke survivors for the seventh straight year in a row, a charity has said. Figures released by Public Health Scotland on Tuesday show that the country is falling 'unacceptably short' of its own targets for stroke patients. Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland said just over half of the 11,341 Scots (53%) who had a stroke last year got access to a care bundle, which includes aspirin, access to a specialised unit, brain imaging, and a swallow screening. That's short of the Government's own target of 80%. Even fewer stroke patients (2.2%) received a thrombectomy, which is a procedure to remove a blood clot from a blood vessel. It's a potentially life-changing operation, according to the charity, and the Scottish figures are 'well below' other comparable nations. 'This government has failed stroke survivors and is failing our NHS colleagues who are doing the absolute best they can with the inadequate resources they're currently being given,' Allan Cowie, chief operating officer at the charity, said. 'Scotland is also falling further behind similar-sized nations, such as the Republic of Ireland, in the delivery of potentially life-changing thrombectomy procedures.' He said 10.8% of stroke patients in the Republic of Ireland received a thrombectomy in 2024, compared to NHS Scotland figures, and the Scottish Government's own target of 10%. 'While Scotland's rate has improved marginally, the disparity remains stark. This is unacceptable,' Mr Cowie said. It's a procedure that two-time stroke survivor Michael Macdonald called a 'game-changer'. Mr Macdonald received a thrombectomy after his first stroke at 33-years-old in 2023. He said he feels 'lucky'. 'I didn't realise this procedure is only available 9-5, Monday to Friday,' he said. 'I got to hospital at 4.30 in the afternoon, and I was lucky that the stroke team decided I needed to be treated right away, and they all stayed to do that. 'Now, knowing the difference thrombectomy can make in recovery, I think it's essential that this procedure is available to everyone, no matter where you live or what time you are admitted to hospital. It's a gamechanger where stroke recovery is concerned.' Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland said stroke is one of the biggest causes of long-term adult disability in Scotland, and it said the quality of care is crucial for recovery. The charity is urging the Scottish Government to make stroke care an urgent priority, and it is demanding widespread improvements for the delivery of thrombectomy. Scottish health secretary Neil Gray said: 'I want to do everything we possibly can in government to ensure we're making improvements to stroke care. 'That's why I'm pleased to see we have made improvements in the number of people getting access to thrombectomy services, but we know there is more to do.' In the vast majority of stroke cases, Gray said thrombectomy procedures are 'absolutely critical'. That's why he said the Scottish Government has invested £50m into NHS services. 'We need to do more so we can continue to save lives and give people the best opportunity of being able to live well after having a stroke,' Gray said. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The National
09-07-2025
- Health
- The National
Stroke deaths higher in deprived Scottish areas, study finds
A study by the University of Aberdeen, funded by Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland (CHSS), also found those in deprived areas were having strokes younger, as well experiencing more co-existing health conditions. According to Health and Care Scotland, data from almost 50,000 patients recorded in the Scottish Stroke Care Audit was analysed, focusing on various post-stroke outcomes including death from any cause within a year and prescriptions given to offset potential future strokes. READ MORE: Scottish Government invests £85m to expand Hospital at Home care service The study found that stroke patients from deprived areas, especially those with conditions like atrial fibrillation, were less likely to receive guideline-recommended treatment and more likely to be prescribed less effective medication. Researchers say the findings highlight the need to rethink the national approach to stroke prevention and care, with tailored strategies for more deprived communities to address disparities. Lead researcher, Dr Kadie-Ann Sterling, said: 'Understanding the differences in stroke presentation and outcomes between different neighbourhoods should influence public health education, decisions around screening for cardiovascular risk factors and should also be a factor when considering more focussed longer-term follow-up in the most vulnerable patients.' It follows the Scottish Government's launch of a new GP scheme aiming to cut deaths from heart disease and stroke by 20% over 20 years, with a focus on deprived areas where patients are often underrepresented in care. Researchers noted that stroke survivors in affluent areas tend to have better general health and called for greater awareness of stroke risk factors to help close this gap, adding that mortality differences persist even after accounting for stroke severity, access to care, and other health conditions. READ MORE: LIVE: ScotRail trains cancelled as cows on the line cause disruption CHSS have called for urgent action from the Government, with chief executive Jane-Claire Judson saying: 'The worrying trend that people living in more deprived areas are more likely to die within a year of a stroke and less likely to receive the right treatment or consistent care is both alarming and unjust. The postcode lottery for treatment and care must end. 'At CHSS, we're already working in communities to deliver prevention, support recovery, and enable people to self-manage their condition. But we can't do it alone. 'We're calling on the Scottish government and NHS to act now. We need a proactive approach to transforming healthcare services, and CHSS stands ready to help drive forward a fairer and more effective stroke care system for everyone in Scotland.' The Scottish Government was contacted for comment.
The Herald Scotland
08-07-2025
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
Scots stroke survival linked to deprivation, research shows
Funded by Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland, a team of researchers investigated morbidity outcomes in areas of low and high deprivation, and found that those living in poorer neighborhoods were more likely to die within a year of having a stroke. The scientists also revealed that access to treatment can vary widely depending on where one lives. For example, those who suffer from atrial fibrillation, or heart rhythm problems, and live in affluent areas are more likely to be prescribed blood thinners to guard against stroke, while those who live in areas of high deprivation are often given aspirin. Treatment options may differ depending on the area's Kadie-Ann Sterling, Research Assistant at the University of Aberdeen, who led the study, said: 'Our findings suggest that there were significant differences in stroke presentation, secondary prevention prescribing and mortality outcomes across different areas in Scotland and this was dependent upon the deprivation within each area. 'Understanding the differences in stroke presentation and outcomes between different neighbourhoods should influence public health education, decisions around screening for cardiovascular risk factors and should also be a factor when considering more focussed longer-term follow-up in the most vulnerable patients.' An estimated 3,806 people in Scotland died from cerebrovascular disease, which includes stroke, in 2023. The death rate for cerebrovascular patients was 62% higher in the most deprived areas, when compared to the least deprived neighbourhoods. Read more: Ten per cent of Scottish women 'sexually assaulted at work' Ambulance waiting times for critically ill patients on rise in all 32 councils Calls for public inquiry into Alex Salmond 'conspiracy' after Herald interview Jane-Claire Judson, Chief Executive of Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, said: 'The study confirms what we see every day in communities across Scotland - stroke care is not equal, and that's unacceptable. 'The worrying trend that people living in more deprived areas are more likely to die within a year of a stroke and less likely to receive the right treatment or consistent care is both alarming and unjust. 'These research outcomes amplify the need for a substantial rethink of how health services are delivered in Scotland. The postcode lottery for treatment and care must end. 'We're calling on the Scottish Government and NHS to act now. We need a proactive approach to transforming healthcare services, and CHSS stands ready to help drive forward a fairer and more effective stroke care system for everyone in Scotland.'
