NHS Atlas of Variation in Healthcare launches - the Stroke Association comments

The NHS Atlas of Variation- published by NHS England and Public Health England - has looked at service performance in more than 200 local areas. The findings revealed a two-fold variation in early cancer diagnosis and quick stroke treatment between the best and worst.

Alexis Wieroniey, Deputy Director for Policy and Influencing at the Stroke Association, said: “A stroke is a medical emergency. Immediate treatment on a stroke unit is essential, as this helps to minimise the long term effects of stroke, and can prevent death.

“The wide-ranging variation in the time it takes people to be admitted to a stroke unit across England is extremely concerning, and it is unacceptable that too many people are still not admitted to a stroke unit within four hours of their arrival at a hospital.

“Wherever they live, people must have an equal chance in getting the immediate treatment they need to make their best possible recovery from stroke. The evidence is clear that stroke patients treated on a stroke unit do better than those treated on medical or general wards.  They are more likely to survive and less likely to be disabled as a result of their stroke.

“We are calling on those organising and providing health and care to tackle this inequality in stroke provision so that, after stroke, everyone has access, on a stroke unit, to the immediate treatment they need to make their best possible recovery.”