Scotland failing to deliver stroke care standard to nearly half of patients 

• Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland is calling for urgent action on stroke care to improve outcomes for patients 
• Just over half of 10,803 Scots who had a stroke last year got access to necessary standards of treatment 
• Stroke care bundle standards have not been met in years 

Only half (51.3%) of the 10,803 Scots who had a stroke last year received the care defined by national standards which aim to ensure the best chance of survival and recovery.

New figures out today from Public Health Scotland show Scotland is falling well behind its targets of 80% of patients getting access to the stroke care bundle – aspirin for those who need it, access to a stroke unit, brain imaging, and a swallow screening to check they were able to eat and drink safely.

Stroke remains one of Scotland’s biggest causes of long-term disability, and quality of care is essential to recovery. 

Charity Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland is calling for the Scottish Government to speed up investment in stroke care. It says years of failing to achieve stroke care targets is a wake up call for urgent action from the Scottish Government.

Allan Cowie, chief operating officer at Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland said: “Our NHS colleagues are working really hard and doing their best but these figures show only half of people are getting the quality of care they need, this has gone on for years, which is completely unacceptable. 

“Stroke can be life changing – leading to serious language impairments and physical disabilities. On the other hand, people who get the hospital care they need may make improvements and may be able to do much of what they did before – like working and carrying out activities that matter to them.

“We want to see the Scottish Government investing more in stroke care to ensure that when people have a stroke they can be confident they will get the best start to their journey of recovery.” 

The Scottish Stroke Improvement Programme annual report also revealed the time it took in 2023 between entering hospital and receiving clot-busting medication was 55 minutes, up from 51 minutes in 2021. It took on average an extra 17 minutes outside standard working hours.

The figures also revealed only 153 patients received potentially life changing thrombectomy treatment. Although an increase from 112 in 2022, this is still only 1.4% of the total number of patients. While this treatment is not suitable for all patients, other European countries have a much higher rate, such as Ireland where 8% of patients receive the procedure. 

Allan Cowie added: “CHSS has been calling for dramatic improvements in stroke care for years, we campaigned for the national roll out of a thrombectomy service in 2017 but it is still not being consistently delivered.

“We know money is tight for the government, but failing to deliver on stroke care is costing far more in longer hospital stays and care for people with related disabilities. This failure is costing lives and money, it needs to end now.” 

“I feel exceedingly lucky.”

Chris Forsyth, 59 from Livingston, had a stroke in January 2022. It was thanks to his wife Sharron that Chris realised there was something more going on when he fell ill. 

Sharron, who works for the NHS, took one look at Chris and called NHS24. When a paramedic arrived, he decided Chris needed to be in hospital. 

After arriving at A&E at St John’s Hospital in Livingston, Chris was admitted to the stroke unit for thrombolysis – a process that dissolves the blood clot in the brain that causes a stroke. 

Chris said: “I’ve got aphasia, lost my pincer grip and have fatigue but I reckon if it wasn’t for getting the treatment and getting it quickly then I’d have lost the feeling down my whole right side. 

“I feel exceedingly lucky. The week I spent in hospital made me realise how lucky I was to get to hospital. I had two strokes and I wasn’t for going but my wife and the paramedic persuaded me. 

“It was my speech that caught my wife by surprise. I feel extremely lucky and that’s why I try to volunteer as much as I can now. 

“Every day is a struggle because I tend to forget when I’m trying to do something that I can’t do it. Even though I feel lucky I feel as though my recovery isn’t moving fast enough but that’s just me. I’ve not driven since and I was a cab driver before. 

“They said I was lucky to have a stroke is on a weekday because on Monday morning everybody is there. That sticks with me. It shouldn’t matter if it’s a Sunday or a Thursday when they have a stroke the same level of care should be available.”