Stroke Horizon Scanning Bulletin Volume 6 Issue 6

Stroke Improvement Plan by Scottish Government

Source: Scottish Government 21^st August 2014

Follow this link for full text

Date of publication: August 2014

Publication type: Report

In a nutshell: The Stroke Improvement Plan sets out the priorities and actions to deliver improved prevention, treatment and care for all people in Scotland affected by stroke.

Researchers found patients admitted to stroke units with the lowest ratio of nurses were most likely to die in the month after a stroke. This Plan identifies the key priorities and sets out why these issues are important. It identifies the key actions which if delivered will contribute towards improvement.

Length of publication: 30 pages

Nurse ratio at weekends key to stroke survival for patients

Source: BBC News 19^th August 2014

Follow this link for full text

Date of publication: August 2014

Publication type: News Item

In a nutshell: The number of nurses available at weekends – but not the frequency of doctors’ ward rounds – affects chances of survival after stroke, a study says. Researchers found patients admitted to stroke units with the lowest ratio of nurses were most likely to die in the month after a stroke.

Length of publication: 1 page

Some important notes:  The abstract of the original article on which these comments are based can be viewed here.

Brain stimulation ‘helps in stroke’

Source: BBC News 19^th August 2014

Follow this link for full text

Date of publication: August 2014

Publication type: News Item

In a nutshell: Stimulating the part of the brain which controls movement may improve recovery after a stroke, research suggests. Studies showed firing beams of light into the brains of mice led to the animals moving further and faster than those without the therapy.

Length of publication: 1 page

Some important notes:  The abstract of the original article on which these comments are based can be viewed here.

Stroke care continues to show “unacceptable variation,” audit finds

Source: BMJ 18^th August 2014

Follow this link for abstract

Date of publication: August 2014

Publication type: News Item

In a nutshell: Less than a sixth of patients in England and Wales receive the mandated assessment six months after having a stroke, the latest national audit has revealed. It found that stroke care across the two countries continued to be subject to “unacceptable variation.”

Length of publication: 1 page

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.