7 days ago
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
NHS Scotland slammed over stroke treatment 'failure'
The bundle includes aspirin, access to a stroke unit, brain imaging, and a swallow screening.
Furthermore, just 2.2% of Scottish stroke patients underwent a thrombectomy in 2024.
The operation, which removes blood clots from the brain, has been linked to better quality of life outcomes for stroke survivors.
However, only 212 surgeries were carried out in Scotland last year, as the treatment is not offered around the clock.
The government has 'failed' stroke patients, according to a leading Cowie, chief operating officer at Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, said: 'This is the seventh straight year that the Scottish Government has failed to hit its own targets for stroke care.
'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.'
Cowie added that Scotland continues to lag behind other European countries when it comes to thrombectomy treatments.
He said: 'Just 1.6% of suitable stroke patients in Scotland received a thrombectomy in 2023, rising only slightly to 2.2% in 2024, compared to 10.8% in the Republic of Ireland. While Scotland's rate has improved marginally, the disparity remains stark. This is unacceptable.
'While we recognise the financial constraints facing the government, the continued underinvestment in stroke care is resulting in significantly higher long-term costs – both through prolonged hospital stays and the extensive support required for individuals living with stroke-related disabilities.
'This ongoing shortfall is not only economically unsustainable but is also costing lives. Immediate action is imperative.'
Katie Lambert, a stroke nurse with CHSS, added: 'I think we have all noticed changes in the times people are having to wait for services like social services, rehabilitation, home care services and GPs. This is increasing stress in stroke survivors. People seem to be more stressed, anxious, and they find it harder to get routine appointments with GPs.
'That can have a knock-on effect on a person's ongoing stroke prevention risk because if you can't get an appointment with your doctor to talk about your worries, then it's obviously going to have a detrimental effect on your health.'
Read more:
People who live in poorer neighborhoods are 'more likely to die' from stroke
No ScotGov timetable for 24/7 stroke treatment access as deaths hit eight year high
Why has treatment for strokes in Scotland become an issue?
A government spokesperson previously told The Herald: 'We're focused on ensuring people who have had a stroke receive the best possible care as quickly as possible to enable them to live longer, healthier and more independent lives.
'We are working to increase access to thrombectomy procedures. We have invested more than £51 million and are grateful to teams across Scotland, for their work in developing a 24/7 thrombectomy service.'
