Stroke charity wants care crisis plan

A stroke charity has called on the Scottish Government to put in place a long-term plan for care.

Chest, Heart and Stroke S cot land (CHSS) saida proposal that brings together the resources and expertise of the health service, care sector and charities would help to avoid a “stroke care crisis” after the coronavirus pandemic.

The comments come as a report published by Public Health Scotland showed that compliance with the Stroke Care Bundle – a package of support designed to decrease mortality and increased ischarges to normal residence – was 64 per cent last year.

Under NHS guidance, the bundle puts a time limit on admission to a stroke unit, the administration of a swallow test and aspirin, and the undertaking of a brain scan, all of which are measured.

The figure up from 59 per cent the year before, but still shor t of the 80 p er cent target, not met by a single health b oard. The rep or t said that 2019 was the first year where a 12-hour time limit was placed on brain scans.