References
Evolutions in stroke care: the significance
Abstract
Stroke is the third biggest cause of death in the UK and the largest single cause of severe disability. In 2001, the Department of Health recognized the importance of developing better stroke services by including specific milestones, targets and actions in the National Service Framework (NSF) for Older People. In 2007, the Government launched the National Stroke Strategy to modernize service provision and deliver the newest treatments for stroke. Here, Andrew Volans, Consultant in Emergency Medicine, looks at some of the strategy intentions and describes some of the developments in the acute care sector. Email for correspondence:
Stroke is a major medical problem in the UK. Each year, 110 000 people will suffer a stroke and between 20–30% of these will die within one month. 11% of all deaths in the UK are related to stroke and 25% of strokes will occur in patients under 65 years of age.
With such a major load on the medical system, it is not surprising that the Department of Health (DH) took an interest in the topic and in 2001 published a National Service Framework document, advising on topics that needed addressing by commissioners and suppliers (DH, 2001). This was followed in December 2007 by the National Sroke Strategy document describing best practice as it currently existed (DH, 2007).
As is often the case with such documents, the headline points seem to be incontrovertible, but again, as is commonly the case, there is devil in the detail where clinical and commissioning groups can have different views about what is meant within the wording—consequently, services develop differently in different areas depending upon who gets the upper hand in planning discussions.
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