Question reference: S5W-35033
- 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, as it makes progress on thrombectomy provision in Scotland, whether it will provide an update on a) what plans it has to increase the rate of thrombolysis across the country (b) what the target thrombolysis rate is, and by when will this be achieved.
Answer
The Scottish Government expects NHS Boards to provide the best possible care for those who have experienced a stroke, including the provision of thrombolysis where considered clinically appropriate.
The Scottish Government continues to support the Scottish Stroke Improvement Programme as key to informing and driving improvement across stroke care, including thrombolysis. The SSCA enables us to see where local areas are achieving the Scottish Stroke Care Standards, including the standard for thrombolysis and where further improvements are required. Health Boards are expected to identify aspects of their stroke services which do not meet the Scottish Standards and to work with their stroke Managed Clinical Networks to improve their standards of care locally.
Further information can be found at: https://www.strokeaudit.scot.nhs.uk/index.html
The Scottish Stroke Care Audit (SSCA) has not set specific targets for the rate of people treated with thrombolysis. There is a need to balance the benefits of any treatment with its risks and a target rate may not reflect that nuance.