Question reference: S5W-35032
- Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 8 February 2021
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Current status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 25 February 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on whether its Programme for Government has provided a definition for the "progressive Scottish stroke unit"; by what date patients who have had a stroke will be fully treated through stroke unit care, and how the "progressive Scottish stroke unit" (a) compares with current practice and (b) differs from the accredited stroke units in other western European countries.
Answer
The Programme for Government (PfG) 2019-20 commits the Scottish Government to ensuring that improvements are made to stroke pathways and services, including work to scope out and define what a progressive stroke unit looks like.
Work has been on-going during 2020 to progress this commitment, including several Scotland wide virtual meetings between the CMO Advisor and deputy CMO Advisor, and stroke physicians to gather views on the components of a progressive stroke service. The next meeting of the National Advisory Committee for Stroke, in March 2021, will consider the first draft a definition of a progressive Scottish stroke unit.
This description will refer to the best available evidence based on existing national and international guidelines. Comparisons with current practice and other western countries will reflect the best available evidence.
Once the definition of the progressive Scottish Stroke Unit has been defined, we will be able to compare it with current practice and also with international examples.