Ambulance delays mustn’t stop stroke patients from getting lifechanging treatments this winter, says the Stroke Association

Stroke patients need timely access to vital and lifechanging treatments despite the expected difficulties the winter months will bring for the NHS, calls the Stroke Association.

Today’s NHS England data¹shows that November’s average response time for category 2 ambulance calls, which includes stroke, was 42 minutes and 26 seconds - the longest so far this year. In October, the average response time was 42 minutes and 15 seconds, up from 36 minutes and 2 seconds in September. This is against a national target of 30 minutes.²

NHS England data also shows that over the last five years (2018/19 – 2023/24), ambulance response times between November and February have been on average 17.1% longer than between May and August^.3

Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the UK. Speedy treatment of stroke is crucial as 1.9 million brain cells die every minute that a stroke is left untreated, increasing the risk of serious long-term disability and death. Its main treatments – thrombectomy and thrombolysis – are most effective within hours of the onset of stroke.

Although the stroke community has improved the use of thrombectomy treatment - from less than 1% in 2015/16 when such data was first collated - recent data from the Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme (SSNAP)⁴ shows that 3.9% of stroke patients had a thrombectomy last year, against the NHS England’s target of 10% by 2027/28.

The Stroke Association is warning that the expected pressure the NHS will experience in the winter months could prevent even more people from getting this treatment which can make the difference between a stroke survivor leaving hospital walking, in a wheelchair due to mobility issues or even saving their life.

This week, NHS leaders and Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Wes Streeting have been discussing the importance of prioritising patient safety by getting patients out of ambulances and into hospital beds quickly and efficiently as the NHS faces record pressure on its services already this season. This also follows findings from Lord Darzi’s recent report⁵on how long delays for vital NHS services are contributing to unnecessary deaths.

The Stroke Association continues to urge the public to view stroke as a medical emergency and call 999 if they experience any one stroke symptom, rather than go to A&E themselves. These are facial drooping, arm weakness and speech difficulties – as outlined in the FAST test. To support this, the charity is calling for:

• The Secretary of State Wes Streeting to put in place a winter plan and emergency funding to support our ambulance, urgent and emergency care services over the coming months.
• The Government and the NHS continue to highlight thrombectomy as a key priority that regional NHS boards should prioritise in their 2025/26 planning.
• The Government’s 10 Year Health Plan to put in place a clear, actionable road map for transforming stroke care so that every stroke patient gets the high quality, timely care and treatment they need as soon as they call 999.
• The Government and NHS leaders to recruit and retain staff across stroke care including in ambulance services, diagnostics, specialist stroke services to widen access to stroke units and stroke treatments to support their recovery.

Juliet Bouverie OBE, Chief Executive at the Stroke Association, said: “Far too many stroke patients are left with no option but to sit and watch the time tick by as they wait for life-saving treatment. The Stroke Association supports thousands of stroke survivors who are often left unable to walk, talk or even see, which could have been avoided if the right treatments were available at the right time.

“We recognise that ambulance services and the whole NHS workforce are under intense pressure during the winter months, and we welcome their hard work and dedication. Despite their best efforts, long waits have sadly become a hallmark of emergency care. The Government must urgently get a grip on this crisis now with additional funding for stroke care to speed up time from suspected stroke to treatment. This also needs to be a fundamental part of the 10 Year Health Plan, to make the NHS fit for the future and help the stroke patients who have waited long enough already.”

Baz Singh, 52, from Solihull had a stroke last November. The father of five knew he was having a stroke, as did his nineteen-year-old son, by recognising the signs from the FAST test. When Baz’s son called 999 and relayed his dad’s symptoms, the call handler said it would take five to six hours for an ambulance to arrive.

The family decided to make their own way to A&E at Heartlands Hospital in Birmingham where Baz’s stroke was confirmed. However, he was told there was a 26 hour wait for the stroke unit. As a result, Baz was unable to receive timely specialist care. He now lives with significant disabilities including reduced mobility, poor mental health and problems with his vision resulting in a poor quality of life.

Baz said: “I am angry and feel let down by the system. I am sure if I’d received stroke treatment more quickly, my quality of life would be so much better. I hate relying on my kids to help with my personal care and even simple things like tying my shoelaces. It really feels so unfair not just for me, but for them. I don’t want anyone who has had a stroke to live with the disabilities that I do.”

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For more information, contact: Angie Macleod, PR Officer at the Stroke Association on 07904 289900 or angela.macleod@stroke.org.uk

Stroke is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention as every minute is vital. If you experience or spot any one of the symptoms below, don’t wait. Call 999 straight away.

How to identify a stroke

The FAST acronym (Face, Arms, Speech, Time) is a quick test to identify the three most common signs of stroke.

• Face weakness: Can the person smile? Has their mouth or eye drooped?

• Arm weakness: Can the person raise both arms fully and keep them there?

• Speech problems: Can the person speak clearly and understand what you say? Is their speech slurred?

• Time to call 999: if you see any one of these signs.

About the Stroke Association

Over 90,000 people survive a stroke every year in the UK, but surviving a stroke is just the start of a long and gruelling recovery journey.

Mums, dads, grandparents, young people, even children – anyone can have a stroke, and its impact is traumatic.

Brain damage, caused by a stroke, can leave survivors unable to move, see, speak or even swallow.

The Stroke Association is the only charity in the UK providing life-long support for all stroke survivors and their families. We provide tailored support to tens of thousands of stroke survivors each year, fund vital scientific research, and campaign to bring the best care and support for everyone affected by stroke.

Anyone affected by stroke can visit stroke.org.uk or call our dedicated Stroke Support Helpline on 0303 3033 100 for information, guidance or a chat when times are tough.

You can follow us on X, Facebook , Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn

References

1. Ambulance data: https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/20241212-AQI-note-statistical.pdf

2. The current national target for ambulance response for category 2 calls, which includes stroke, is to Improve response times to an average of 30 minutes across 2024/25 (2024-5 NHS Planning Guidance). The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance states those with suspected stroke should be in a specialist unit within four hours of arrival at A&E. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng236, https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/qs2/chapter/Quality-statement-1-Prompt-admission-to-specialist-acute-stroke-units, https://www.strokeguideline.org/app/uploads/2023/04/National-Clinical-Guideline-for-Stroke-2023.pdf

3. A&E Attendances and Emergency Admissions, NHS England, Sep 2024: https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae-waiting-times-and-activity/

4. Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme (SSNAP) is the nation’s biggest stroke data audit covering England, Wales and Northern Ireland. For more information visit: https://www.strokeaudit.org/

5. The Lord Darzi review: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-investigation-of-the-nhs-in-england