The UK needs to quickly improve stroke services or they will remain the worst in western Europe, a leading doctor reported in the British Medical Journal.* Professor Hugh Markus from London’s St George’s Medical School, said that patients are not treated with sufficient priority and the condition is seen as a “Cinderella” subject in the UK compared to other European countries.
Improved early diagnosis with imaging, along with improved monitoring and treatment, will improve outcome independent of administration of thrombolysis he concluded.
His comments followed an earlier report, by the National Audit Office report in 2005, which suggested that 550 deaths could be avoided and an extra 1,700 patients make a full recovery if care was better organised.
Joe Korner, director of communications at The Stroke Association responded to the comments by Prof Markus, stating: “It is vital that stroke gets the priority and investment it needs – without investment hundreds will die needlessly. Public awareness of stroke also needs to be increased so that people can recognise the warning signs of a stroke and dial 999 immediately. It is unacceptable that at the present time, for people who have a stroke in the UK, their prospects are far bleaker than in other countries.”
* Improving the outcome of stroke, BMJ Volume 335 pp 359-60.
