Access to immediate stroke care depends upon where you live in the country, official NHS figures show.
The data compares how many patients are referred to specialist units for clot-busting drugs within four hours of having a stroke.
Clot-busting medication can help to prevent death and disability, but is only effective if administered shortly the onset of stroke symptoms.
The figures reveal shocking variations in the standard of stroke care over the past 12 months, with some parts of the country significantly out-performing others.
The worst performer was NHS Wyre Forest where just 22% of patients were admitted to a stroke unit within four hours.
This is compared to NHS Hillingdon in West London, where 85% of stroke sufferers received clot-busting medication within four hours.
Other poor performers included NHS South Worcestershire where the figure was 25%, and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) where the figure was 30%.
Kingsley Manning, chairman of the HSCIC, commented on this postcode lottery: “It is important that patients suffering a stroke receive appropriate care as soon as possible.”
“I’m sure healthcare professionals and those responsible for delivering care for stroke patients will use this report to identify how improvements in treatment can be made, such as how quickly patients are admitted to a stroke unit.”
Delayed stroke treatment
If you or your loved one has been harmed because of substandard stroke care, please get in touch with us to discuss your options. If there has been a case of medical negligence, you will be entitled to claim compensation.
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