Current status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 23 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason a stroke thrombectomy service is not currently available in Glasgow on a 24/7 basis.
The Scottish Government remains committed to implementing a high quality and clinically safe thrombectomy service. We have invested over £51 million to date on expanding access to thrombectomy. While we continue to face significant financial challenges, we are committed to further expanding the service, ensuring access is as equitable as possible.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde operate their service: Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm for patients arriving directly at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm for patients arriving at West of Scotland spoke hospitals.
Whilst the Scottish Government cannot currently provide a timeline for expanding the service, Scottish Government officials and NHS planners have been asked to work at pace on developing a plan for the next steps for service expansion.
We have provided funding for thrombectomy nurse posts in spoke sites with high rates of ischaemic stroke, including NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, and this will support maximising access to thrombectomy across Scotland
Procurement of a national artificial intelligence imaging tool is underway and, once implemented, this will help delivery of the service by improving detection of patients with strokes suitable for thrombectomy.