Latest Royal College of Physicians stroke audit results revealed

Source: The Stroke Association

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Date of publication: March 2012

Publication type: Press Release

In a nutshell: The RCP has published new quarterly figures showing the quality of stroke care in hospitals in England and Northern Ireland. The results show that stroke care is improving overall with over half of patients being admitted directly to a stroke unit within four hours of their arrival at hospital.

Length of publication: 1 page

Some important notes: The full report can be viewed online here.

Current practice of carotid endarterectomy in the UK

Source: British Journal of Surgery 2012 Feb; 99 (2): 209-216

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Date of publication: December 2011

Publication type: Journal Article

In a nutshell: This study assesses national surgical practice of Carotid endarterectomy through audit of CEA procedures and outcomes. The results show that CEA is performed less commonly in the UK than in other European countries and probably remains underutilized in the prevention of stroke. Increasing the number of CEAs done in the UK, together with reducing surgical waiting times, could prevent more strokes.

Length of publication: 8 pages

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.

Only 1 in 3 stroke patients receiving prompt brain scans

Source: The Telegraph 18th August 2011

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Date of publication: August 2011

Publication type: News Item

In a nutshell: A national audit carried out by the Royal College of Physicians has found that just 33 per cent of those treated at NHS hospitals after suffering a stroke receive a brain scan within an hour. The figures relate to the first quarter of 2011-12 after the RCP switched to quarterly reporting of the Stroke Improvement National Audit Programme (SINAP).

Length of publication: 1 page news item

Some important notes: For access to the full audit results click here.

Thousands of patients miss out on stroke prevention surgery

Source: The Stroke Association 21st June 2011

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Date of publication: June 2011

Publication type: Press Release

In a nutshell: A new report from the Royal College of Physicians and The Vascular Society suggests that despite high profile public awareness campaigns, more than half of NHS patients with symptoms of stroke or mini stroke are failing to get fast access to life-saving stroke prevention surgery. The UK Carotid Endarterectomy Audit shows that a lack of public and professional awareness about the need for quick treatment, combined with badly designed hospital services, is resulting in hundreds of preventable strokes.

Length of publication: 1 page

Some important notes: The report on which these comments are based can be viewed here.

Hospitals failing stroke admissions target

Source: Health Service Journal 29th June 2011

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Date of publication: June 2011

Publication type: News Item

In a nutshell: New figures from the Scottish Stroke Care Audit show that most hospitals in Scotland are failing to meet admission targets for stroke victims. The audit also shows that hospitals are lagging behind in brain scan targets.

Length of publication: 1 page news item

Some important notes: The Scottish Stroke Care Audit report can be viewed online by following this link.

Stroke care progress lagging, report suggests

Source: Health Service Journal 13th May 2011

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Date of publication: May 2011

Publication type: News Item

In a nutshell: New audit findings published this month show that stroke services in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are improving but some patients still miss out on high quality care. The audit results also suggest that a government campaign to increase the awareness of stroke may not have had a long-term effect.

Length of publication: 1 page news item

Some important notes: The audit report on which these comments are based can be viewed here.

National sentinel stroke audit – organisational audit 2010

Source: Royal College of Physicians

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Date of publication: August 2010

Publication type: Report

In a nutshell: This audit, commissioned by the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership, investigates the follow-up care that stroke patients receive when they leave hospital. The audit found that while many aspects of acute care have improved, post acute services have not kept up and there is a lack of access to long term rehabilitation services, particularly to help people return to work.

Length of publication: 136 pages

A telephone hotline for transient ischaemic attack and stroke: prospective audit of a model to improve rapid access to specialist stroke care

Source: BMJ 2010 Jul; 341: c3265

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Date of publication: July 2010

Publication type: Journal Article

In a nutshell: This quality improvement report provides details of an audit undertaken in Lothian, Scotland on the use of a consultant telephone hotline for transient ischemic attack and stroke. The aim of the audit was to find out if the hotline reduced delays in assessment and appropriate treatment.

Length of publication: 3 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.

Mini-stroke victims ‘miss out on vital care’

Source: BBC

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Date of publication: July 2010

Publication type: News Item

In a nutshell: This news item provides details from the results of an audit carried out by The Royal College of Physicians and The Vascular Society on vascular surgical services and carotid endarterectomy. The results from the audit show that just a third of 3,000 patients had carotid endarterectomy surgery by the two-week deadline, and many did not get it at all.

Length of publication: 1 page news item

Some important notes: The full audit report can be viewed by following this link.

A telephone hotline for transient ischaemic attack and stroke: prospective audit of a model to improve rapid access to specialist stroke care

Source: BMJ 2010; 341: c3265

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Date of publication: July 2010

Publication type: Journal Article

In a nutshell: This study provides details of an ongoing prospective audit of a transient ischaemic attack and stroke clinic, as part of the Scottish Stroke Care Audit, and a three month targeted audit of immediate telephone access to a specialist stroke consultant.

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.

Progress in improving stroke care

Source: National Audit Office

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Date of publication: February 2010

Publication type: Report

In a nutshell: This report by the Audit Office states that the Department of Health’s strategy for stroke care has increased awareness of the condition and started to improve care and outcomes. However, improvements have not been universal, health and social care services are not working together as they should, a third of patients do not receive a follow up appointment within six weeks, and half of all stroke survivors say that they are offered no advice on stroke prevention when leaving hospital.

Length of publication: 46 page report

Acknowledgement: HSJ