It's Just Not Good Enough

NEARLY three quarters of those who suffer a stroke are still not receiving life saving care.¹ This is a national disgrace and The Stroke Association is launching a campaign to bring attention to this major health problem.

It is estimated that over fifteen people a day are dying unnecessarily because they are not treated in a stroke unit. The It's Just Not Good Enough campaign highlights the lack of stroke units available for patients in this country and calls on the Government to make stroke care a priority.

"If people who suffered from cancer or heart disease were treated in the same way, there would be a national outrage," says Eoin Redahan, a director of The Stroke Association. "Yet because stroke affects mainly older people it doesn't seem to matter. How can anyone justify not giving a treatment that will reduce unnecessary deaths?"

Stroke units save lives - if a person is treated in a stroke unit they are 20% less likely to die or suffer serious disability. And yet currently just over a quarter of people spend more than half their stay in a stroke unit. This is just not good enough.

Since the Department of Health published national standards for stroke care, last year, some improvements have been made, but they are not enough to ensure all patients who suffer a stroke will have access to specialised stroke services, as promised.

As part of the It's Just Not Good Enough campaign, The Stroke Association is organising a national petition, to be presented to 10 Downing Street, calling on the Government to improve stroke care services. Laura Panting, age 9, will present the petition to Downing Street. Laura's mother has been affected by stroke.*
"We hope that by calling on the Government to keep its promise, we can reduce the number of deaths and serious disabilities suffered," adds Mr Redahan. "We believe everyone who has suffered a stroke deserves access to the life saving and disability- reducing care that stroke units provide."

Ends

References
¹ Royal College of Physicians National Audit of Stroke Services 2001/02. Published July 2002.

Notes to editor

1. For more information on the campaign call the Press Office, The Stroke Association on 020 7566 1515 or 020 7566 0328.

2. The first target for improving stroke services was that by April 2002, all NHS Trusts in England should have plans to introduce a specialist stroke service from April 2004. The Stroke Association has been trying to establish if this milestone has been met.

3. The Association carried out a survey last summer and asked NHS Trusts about their plans for stroke services. We found significant gaps in provision around the country and there was also evidence that many existing stroke units were too small to accommodate all those who need care following a stroke. Audit by the Royal College of Physicians has confirmed that only 27% of stroke patients spend half their time in a stroke unit.

4. Stroke units provide organised stroke care with a team of doctors, nurses, therapists and specialists, specially trained in looking after people who have had a stroke.

5. A stroke happens when the blood supply to the brain is disrupted. Most strokes occur when a blood clot blocks the flow of blood to the brain. Some strokes are caused by bleeding in or around the brain from a burst blood vessel.

6. Stroke is one of the biggest killers and the largest single cause of serious adult disability in the UK. Around 100,000 people in England and Wales suffer a first stroke each year - about 10,000 are under the age of 55 and 1,000 are under the age of 30. One person every five minutes will suffer a first stroke.

7. The Stroke Association is the only national charity solely concerned with combating stroke in people of all ages. It funds research into prevention, treatment and better methods of rehabilitation and helps stroke patients and their families directly through its community services. These include visiting services, dysphasia support, family support, welfare grants, publications and leaflets. We also campaign, educate and inform to increase knowledge of stroke at all levels of society and we act as a voice for everyone affected by stroke.

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