Stroke Horizon Scanning Bulletin Volume 3 Issue 11

Stroke victims far more likely to die if sent to hospitals outside London

Source: The Telegraph 20th November 2011

Follow this link for fulltext

Date of publication: November 2011

Publication type: News Item

In a nutshell: An investigation has found that stroke victims who are admitted to hospital are far more likely to die if they are treated outside central London. Official data shows survival rates in the capital’s flagship hospitals are more than 50 per cent higher than in other parts of the country, with stroke sufferers treated in small towns, rural areas and industrial cities faring worst.

Length of publication: 1 page news item

Leicester research highlights stroke symptoms

Source: BBC 2nd December 2011

Follow this link for fulltext

Date of publication: December 2011

Publication type: News Item

In a nutshell: Researchers in Leicester have highlighted two more symptoms that may indicate when someone is having a stroke. A project by the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust found that leg weakness and loss of vision were strong indicators to look out for.

Length of publication: 1 page news item

Practical principles for improving stroke care

Source: Stroke Improvement

Follow this link for fulltext

Date of publication: November 2011

In a nutshell: The stroke team has produced a set of eight documents with ‘practical principles’ for improving stroke care. The documents available are:

• Practical principles for improving psychological care after stroke
• Practical principles for developing an early supported discharge service
• Practical principles for improving access to CT scanning
• Practical principles for Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA)
• Practical principles – how to establish joint care planning
• Practical principles to manage reviews for stroke survivors
• Practical principles – being the best in acute stroke
• Practical principles for developing a community stroke service

Length of publication: 8 documents

Mind the gap: ways to enhance therapy provision in stroke rehabilitation

Source: NHS Improvement

Follow this link for fulltext

Date of publication: November 2011

In a nutshell: This document explores some of the different models adopted by therapy services to deliver rehabilitation in the context of major change within the NHS nationally and locally.

Length of publication: 52 pages

Does higher quality primary health care reduce stroke admissions? a national cross-sectional study.

Source: British Journal of General Practice 2011 Dec; 61 (593): 801-807

Follow this link for abstract

Date of publication: December 2011

Publication type: Journal Article

In a nutshell: This study aims to determine if the hospital admission rate for stroke is reduced by effective primary and secondary prevention in primary care.

Length of publication: 7 page article

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS library for the full text of this article. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Secondary prevention of stroke and transient ischaemic attack

Source: Nursing Standard 2011 Nov; 26 (9): 41-46

Follow this link for abstract

Date of publication: November 2011

Publication type: Journal Article

In a nutshell: This article provides an overview of the evidence relating to lifestyle risk factors for stroke. It also discusses health promotion theories and intervention techniques that nurses can use to address lifestyle behaviour change following stroke.

Length of publication: 6 page article

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS library for the full text of this article. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Cost associated with stroke: outpatient rehabilitative services and medication

Source: Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation 2011 Nov-Dec; 18 (6): 676-684

Follow this link for abstract

Date of publication: November 2011

Publication type: Journal Article

In a nutshell: This study aims to determine the direct costs associated with outpatient rehabilitation services and medication in stroke.

Length of publication: 9 page article

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS library for the full text of this article. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Further dissemination

If you think anyone would benefit from receiving this posting or from subscribing to this blog please email them the link to this blog and suggest they sign up to the blogs email newsletter to stay up-to-date with new content.