Patients left at risk of strokes by lengthy waits for crucial operations

facial weakness, pins and needles and speech problems. Crucially, they leave patients at increased risk of a major stroke which can cause brain injury, death or severe disability.

Guidance from the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence says the operation – known as a carotid endarterectomy – should take place within two weeks of a patient suffering symptoms. But an audit of 4,250 patients across England and Wales who suffered mini-strokes in 2015 found that 43 per cent were forced to wait longer.

The Royal College is calling for urgent action by hospitals to stop patients being left to suffer “devastating consequences” which might easily have been avoided.

The National Vascular Registry found that on average, patients waited 13 days for surgery, against the 14-day target. But at many trusts waiting times were far higher, with 10 specialist units having average waiting times exceeding three weeks. Overall, average waits at specialist units ranged from six days to 55 days.

The surgical procedure involves removing plaque that has built up in the carotid artery in the front of the neck. This prevents a further potential blockage of blood flowing to the brain – and a major stroke.

Prof Ian Loftus, a consultant vascular surgeon, and lead clinician for the National Vascular Registry, said hospitals who were allowing patients to endure long waits must urgently change their ways.

He said: “It is vital that patients who have a mini stroke, or TIA, have rapid access to specialist vascular services so a swift decision can be made as to whether or not they should have surgery. Hospitals with longer times for diagnosis of carotid endarterectomy must review their practice to identify how these times can be reduced.”

Prof Loftus said the public also needed to know more about signs of ministrokes: “The symptoms of a ministroke and stroke are the same, but the difference with a mini-stroke is that the patient does not suffer permanent damage. This is why it is so important that people are aware of the signs of a stroke, which include blurred vision, slurred speech and weakness in the arms, legs or face.”