Stroke charity slams 'bundle' of care stats

A leading stroke charity has called on NHS Forth Valley’s leadership to do more to help patients after new data revealed only 40 per cent received a ‘bundle’ of care associated with better outcomes.

- STUART MCFARLANE

The figures released by Public Health Scotland highlighted that only 40 percent of patients attending Forth Valley Royal Hospital for strokes were treated with the bundle, behind a Scottish average of 52.9 per cent and a national target of 80 percent.

That 2024 number was slightly down on the 2023 position of 40.3 percent, with the Stroke Association leading questions over the role of what it described as “wider hospital systems failures” and Scottish Government policy-making.

John Watson, associate director for the Stroke Association in Scotland, said: “We work closely with stroke teams and recognise the tremendous efforts made by staff on the ground. But they can’t fix this on their own.

“It is political decisions, from the Scottish Government and health board leadership, that determine the resources, equipment and staff available to them.”