Getting better: Improving stroke services across the UK

This new report from The Stroke Association brings together twelve case studies of stroke services from across the UK covering the whole of the stroke care pathway.

The case studies show what can be achieved when key individuals, often from different organisations, get together to champion the stroke cause. They also identify some of the challenges that will need to be overcome to achieve the improvements in stroke care that we are all so desperate to see.

Each case study highlights a particular aspect of the care pathway. They include prevention, managing TIAs, establishing a stroke unit, offering thrombolysis, early supported discharge and long term support for those with communication difficulties. They show that improving stroke services reduces mortality and disability, and for some people treatment with thrombolysis can lead to a dramatic recovery.

They feature interviews with the key individuals involved in promoting change and getting the service improved alongside comments from some of those who have benefited.

The report is aimed at policy makers, commissioners, providers of stroke services, healthcare professionals working in hospital and in the community as well as stroke survivors and their families.

We want people to read the case studies to feel inspired and to think 'yes we could do something like that' or 'why doesn’t my hospital do that', and then start talking to others about how improvements could be made. As some of the case studies show, the initiative for change can come from a number of different sources.

The report also contains recommendations that we would like to see implemented that would improve services across the board for all stroke survivors and carers. By demonstrating what stroke services could look like we believe the report can build on what is already happening and further encourage the development of services as outlined in the National Stroke Strategy for England as well as the similar initiatives in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Our report does not seek to provide a blueprint for transforming stroke services. These case studies only give some ideas of how stroke care can be improved and there are many other examples of innovation and good practice around the UK.

However, we believe that the report can be used as a catalyst for change and hope that by demonstrating what can be achieved, we can encourage and inspire others to strive for the best in stroke care.

Please download a copy here Getting better: Improving stroke services across the United Kingdom (985 kb) [pdf]

Alternatively, if you would like to order a hard copy go to our online order form.

We are now looking to set up a database of examples of good practice. If you think the service you offer is an example of good practice please email approximately 700 words to us describing what you do.