Thrombectomy is a game-changing treatment for stroke. It significantly reduces the chance of disabilities like paralysis, blindness and aphasia – and in some cases even saves lives.
Scotland needs a 24/7 national thrombectomy service. Wherever you live, whenever your stroke happens – if you’re eligible – you should get it. Currently that’s not the case – 1200 stroke patients in Scotland are eligible for the treatment each year, but in 2022 just over 100 people received it.
We acknowledge and support the Scottish Government’s commitment to deliver a 24/7 national service, but we are troubled and exasperated at the length of time this is taking and the continued lack of a clear pathway towards that end.
We appreciate the complexities involved but this programme has been running for four years and we remain by all accounts, some distance away from a 24/7 service. There are still extremely limited opening hours at the three Hubs – where the procedure can be performed – in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee. There is also a lack currently of a clear, detailed plan on how to achieve the workforce, equipment, and structures to embed in the NHS a safe, sustainable 24/7 national service.
Every day that thrombectomy is not available to people in Scotland who need it, is another day when clinicians are presented with patients who they know they could help but are unable to do so – and the awful realities of people left to live a life with profound disabilities which are entirely preventable.
We urge the Scottish Government to publish a clear, detailed, achievable plan to completion.
We also encourage Health Boards to make sometimes difficult internal decisions. In challenging financial times, thrombectomy needs to be seen as outstanding value as a clinical procedure. The outcomes from thrombectomy patients far exceed those of other established clinical procedures.
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Contact scotland@stroke.org.uk with any questions on this campaign, or to get involved.