Question reference: S6W-05487
- Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 6 January 2022
-
Current status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 21 January 2022
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the five commitments regarding stroke made in its 2019-20 Programme for Government.
Answer
The five commitments made in the 2019-20 Programme for Government were; 1) appoint a Chief Medical Officer Speciality Advisor for stroke care, 2) review and improve the current stroke care bundle to improve outcomes for patients, 3) collaborate across government on stroke prevention and raising awareness of the signs of stroke, 4) begin work to scope out and define what a progressive stroke unit looks like, and 5) ensure that a national planning framework is in place for a high quality and clinically safe thrombectomy service.
Updates are as follows;
Professor Martin Dennis (Chief Medical Officer Specialty Advisor for Stroke) and Dr Fiona Wright (Deputy Chief Medical Officer Speciality Advisor for Stroke) were appointed in 2020.
The Scottish Stroke Care Audit standards have, for several years, included the proportion of patients with a final diagnosis of stroke who were managed in accordance with all four standards comprising the care bundle. The standards within the bundle include the prompt delivery of: a) admission to a stroke unit; b) brain scanning; c) screening for swallow problems; and d) administering aspirin (unless contraindicated). The standards are regularly reviewed in line with current evidence and updated guidelines.
We have progressed with work to scope out and define a progressive stroke pathway. The resulting document is expected in early 2022. It will set out our vision for what stroke services across Scotland should deliver across the whole patient pathway, including prevention, recognition of stroke, timely access to acute and hyperacute care and the provision of stroke rehabilitation.
We remain committed to introducing a high quality and clinically safe thrombectomy service in Scotland. A pilot thrombectomy programme began in the North of Scotland at NHS Tayside on 9 November 2020 and the East of Scotland began their pilot service on the 6th September 2021. A Scotland wide service is expected to be operational by 2023.