Postcode lottery for stroke patients

More than a third of those struck down do not receive treatment on a stroke unit where their prospects are considerably better, a national audit found.

Research, funded by the Healthcare Commission, found considerable disparities in the quality of care offered across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

In particular, it found that patients in Wales are more likely to die, or if they survive suffer higher levels of disability, than elsewhere.

In Wales, 28 per cent of patients are treated in a stroke unit, compared with an average across the three countries of 62 per cent.

Meanwhile, 64 per cent patients in England and 73 per cent patients in Northern Ireland can expect to visit a specialist unit.

Joe Korner, of The Stroke Association, said the Government must ensure that the quality of stroke care does not come down to chance.

He said: "Stroke units can halve your chance of dying from a stroke, so it is a scandal that getting treated on one is a matter of luck or your postcode.

"The Stroke Association is campaigning to ensure that the stroke care you get is not down to chance.

"Radical improvements in stroke care are within our reach.

"The Government, with a new stroke strategy in development, has the chance to do for stroke what has been achieved for heart disease in the last ten years.

"It is vital that stroke gets the priority and investment needed - without investment hundreds will die needlessly."

Every year, over 130,000 people in the UK have a stroke, according to The Stroke Association.

A stroke is a brain injury caused by a sudden interruption in blood flow, often caused by a blood clot blockage or sudden bleeding.

The results came from the 2006 National Sentinel Audit for Stroke, carried out by the Royal College of Physicians.

It found that although improvements have been made during the past 10 years, there are still many areas of care that need to be improved.

The authors criticised some hospitals for "failing to recognise that their stroke patients need 21st century management".

They found that patients are spending more of their time on stroke units, but there are still unacceptable waits for brain scans and starting treatment.

Patients managed on stroke units have better results than those looked after in other settings, the Royal College of Physicians said.

They are more likely to have their swallowing checked, to start aspirin within 48 hours, to be assessed by therapists on time and to have a home visit.

Among the findings of the audit were:

• 62 per cent of patients were admitted to a stroke unit at some point in their stay, compared to 46% in 2004.

• The most dramatic rise in stroke unit coverage was in England, which improved from 82% in 2004 to 97 per cent in 2006.

• 76 per cent of patients with minor stroke in hospital for less than 2 days are not being managed on specialist units, despite being at high risk of having another stroke.

• Only 42 per cent of patients had brain imaging to confirm their diagnosis within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms, an "unacceptably low" figure.

Dr Jonathan Boyce, of the Healthcare Commission, said there are some improvements among the figures.

He said: "But there is still too much variation, too many places and regions that are not responding as well as they could to minimise the harm done by this serious and common condition. They now need to get their house in order."

Dr Tony Rudd, of the Intercollegiate Stroke Network, said there are still too many patients who receive substandard care.

He said: "The failure of the majority of hospitals in Wales to offer stroke unit care is scandalous and needs urgent action."