Response to new stroke statistics in Health Statistics Quarterly Summer 2006

Joe Korner, Director of Communications at The Stroke Association comments:

"It comes as no surprise to us that stroke is now ranked as the second leading cause of death in the latest ONS report. Yet despite slow improvements, too often stroke services remain inefficient, under resourced and out of date.

"Stroke continues to be given a lower priority in the public health agenda than heart disease and cancer. For example during 2003-04, the Department of Health research funding into coronary heart disease was £52 million, yet it was just £9.4 million into stroke.

"Recent moves by the Department of Health to develop a new stroke strategy are very encouraging. However vital action is needed now to save lives and improve outcomes for the 130,000 people who have a stroke in England and Wales each year."

http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/hsq0506.pdf

For further information please call the Media Team at The Stroke Association on 020 7566 1500 or email press@stroke.org.uk

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