Press Release: Improved care for stroke patients

Improved support for stroke patients was announced today by Deputy Minister for Health Gwenda Thomas at a summit in Cardiff.

A new requirement will mean that, by March 2009, all stroke patients will be admitted to dedicated beds staffed by a specialist team.

The announcement follows a recommendation from a partnership set up by the Welsh Assembly Government to advise on improving care.

The Government sought their views after an audit by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), published last May, concluded that there was not enough specialist beds and support for stroke patients.

Although the numbers of people in Wales dying from a stroke have been falling in recent years, a total of 2,380 people died in 2005.

Gwenda Thomas said:

“The Government is committed to improving stroke services in Wales.

“Currently, those people who survive a stroke are often left with varying degrees of disability and rehabilitation needs.

“The RCP report was a damning commentary on our stroke services. When the Health Minister met the Stroke Association in June, she assured them that this was one of her priorities.

“The NHS across Wales has now been required to work with social services departments to map current services against the stroke standards set out in the National Service Framework for Older People.

“To ensure these improvements are implemented promptly – and as part of the One Wales commitment to improve services for long-term conditions such as stroke – £2.5 million is being made available from 2008-09. Decisions on the use of this funding will be made in the light of the mapping work the local NHS is doing.

“To oversee and co-ordinate improvements to stroke services at a national level, we have also established an independent panel, the Stroke Partnership. This partnership will encourage, advise and support the NHS and social services in their efforts to provide the quality of care that stroke patients need.

“We need our doctors, nurses and other health professionals to champion and lead the change programme. That’s why we have established the Wales Stroke Alliance, led by Dr Anne Freeman, a physician and a Trustee of the Stroke Association, to directly underpin the Stroke Partnership and input into and support its work.

“We intend this programme of work to act as a firm and positive driver and a focus for the improvements we need to achieve. The programme will be reviewed periodically in the light of progress.”

Trish Hughes, General Manager for Wales, the Stroke Association, said:

“We welcome this announcement by the Deputy Minister and look forward to working in partnership with the Welsh Assembly Government to improve stroke services in Wales.

“As the Minister acknowledges, stroke care in Wales has lagged behind that of the rest of the United Kingdom. Stroke is a long term condition and will need long term funding. There is a long way to go, but we feel reassured that the Assembly Government is now addressing what is the third biggest killer in Wales.”