Stroke Horizon Scanning Bulletin Volume 3 Issue 6

A guide to achieving changes in imaging services to support new stroke pathways

Source: NHS Improvement

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Date of publication: June 2011

Publication type: Guide

In a nutshell: This new NHS Improvement publication has been produced to highlight how changes in imaging services have been achieved by trusts across the country to deliver improvements in services to stroke patients.

Length of publication: 20 pages

Evaluation of stroke services in Anglia stroke clinical network to examine the variation in acute services and stroke outcomes

Source: BMC Health Services Research 2011 Feb; 11: 50

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Date of publication: February 2011

Publication type: Journal Article

In a nutshell: This study evaluates stroke services in eight acute NHS Trusts in North East England, providing observational data about health service factors associated with variations in patient outcomes and health care costs following hospital admission for acute stroke. The results will help inform clinicians, service providers, commissioners and policy makers.

Length of publication: 6 page article

The best stroke services are built around the individual

Source: Nursing Times.net

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Date of publication: March 2011

Publication type: Opinion

In a nutshell: In this piece, Cynthia Bower, Chief Executive of the Care Quality Commission comments on the recent review ‘Supporting Life After Stroke’ and discusses the care provided to stroke sufferers after leaving hospital.

Length of publication: 1 page

The workload of stroke thrombolysis: a prospective study in a district general hospital setting

Source: Acute Medicine 2011; 10 (1): 10-12

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Date of publication: March 2011

Publication type: Journal Article

In a nutshell: This study investigates the workload relating to a stroke thrombolysis service. The authors prospectively studied all referrals to the 24-hour stroke thrombolysis service at Southampton General Hospital. The aim was to find how many patients require urgent assessment before one is treated. This data can help inform future service planning.

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.

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.

Direct costs of patients with stroke can be continuously monitored on a national level: performance, effectiveness, and costs of treatment episodes in stroke (PERFECT stroke) database in Finland

Source: Stroke 2011 Apr 28. [Epub ahead of print]

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Date of publication: April 2011

Publication type: Journal Article

In a nutshell:  A team of researchers in Finland have developed a system for monitoring the cost of stroke treatment at a national level using individual patient data.

Length of publication: 6 page article

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

Developing theory and practice: creation of a Community of Practice through Action Research produced excellence in stroke care

Source: Journal of Interprofessional Care 2011 Mar; 25 (2): 91-7

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Date of publication: March 2011

Publication type: Journal Article

In a nutshell: This paper highlights the worth of creating a Community of Practice (CoP) as a means of achieving good quality stroke care. The study demonstrates how successful development of a new service was linked to the creation of a CoP.

Length of publication: 7 page article

More trusts use telemedicine for stroke

Source: E-Health Insider 17th June 2011

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Date of publication: June 2011

Publication type: News Item

In a nutshell: More than 30 acute trusts have now adopted a telemedicine system designed to deliver fast and appropriate treatment to stroke victims. The system enables consultants to talk to patients using video and audio links, view their scans from a lap-top and make decisions about prescribing life-saving drugs.

Length of publication: 1 page news item

Royal Devon takes stroke nursing care into the home

Source: Nursing Times.net 17th June 2011

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Date of publication: June 2011

Publication type: News Item

In a nutshell: The Royal Devon and Exeter Foundation Trust’s specialist stroke service has launched a scheme to treat recovering patients in their own homes. So far 40 patients have been through the pilot scheme which has been developed with NHS Devon and sees patients treated by specialist nurses.

 Length of publication: 1 page

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