SOUTH NORFOLK MP Richard Bacon has called on Health ministers to act quickly to improve the speed and effectiveness of stroke care in England.

Mr Bacon, a member of the Commons public accounts committee, was speaking as the National Audit Office (NAO) published its report into stroke care services. With 110,000 strokes occurring in England every year, the report stresses how a fast response to stroke victims is vital in providing effective treatment.

Mr Bacon said: "When a patient suffers a stroke, time is of the essence to reduce the risk of death or disability.  Because safe and effective treatment relies on an early brain scan, it is simply unacceptable that last year, most stroke patients had to wait over two days to get one".

Stroke is one of the top three causes of death in England, and costs the NHS about £7 billion a year.  Around 300,000 people in England live with the disabilities caused by strokes, although the report finds this could be addressed by earlier access to physiotherapists and other health professionals.

The report identifies that many people in England are still not getting the level of stroke prevention, treatment and rehabilitation they need.  The NAO has identified savings to be made by making sure that health services, from ambulance crews and radiology departments through to physiotherapists, are able to provide a fast, effective and flexible response.

Mr Bacon added: "It is common sense that if you treat people more quickly, they will need less help later on. This will save lives".     

16 November 2005
 

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See also:
NAO REPORT: Faster access to better stroke care