NHS Lothian stats prompts call for volunteers to support stroke survivors

In 2024, only 56.3% of stroke patients attending NHS Lothian hospitals received the stroke care bundle – which is associated with better patient outcomes – against a Scotland-wide health board average of 52.9% and a national, government target of 80%.

Figures released by Public Health Scotland this month show that 1,446 people in the NHS Lothian area had a stroke in 2024 and the health board struggled to meet national targets for providing basic stroke care.

In 2024, only 56.3% of stroke patients attending NHS Lothian hospitals received the stroke care bundle – which is associated with better patient outcomes – against a Scotland-wide health board average of 52.9% and a national, government target of 80%.

The 2024 figure was up on the 2023 position of 54.3%, but still shows ongoing challenges that the Stroke Association puts down to wider hospital systems failures and an urgent need for the Scottish Government and health board leaders to make stroke a priority.

Commenting on the new figures, John Watson, Associate Director for the Stroke Association in Scotland, said: “We work closely with stroke teams and recognise the tremendous efforts made by staff on the ground. But they can’t fix this on their own.

“It is political decisions, from the Scottish Government and health board leadership, that determine the resources, equipment and staff available to them.”

NHS Lothian is doing better in six-month post-stroke reviews, for which they have progressed from amber ratings in 2022 and 2023 to green in 2024, to provide stroke survivors with the opportunity to review their recovery with a health professional and make plans for further rehabilitation, if need be.

However, in common with six other Scottish health boards, the board has been rated amber for psychological care in the Scottish Stroke Improvement Programme (SSIP) annual report for as long as data has been collected on this vital aspect of recovery (since 2023).

NHS Lothian has been rated amber for psychological care for the past three years, suggesting there is only some evidence of this support being provided to patients. As have NHS Grampian, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, NHS Lanarkshire, NHS Orkney, NHS Shetland and NHS Tayside.

Figures in the SSIP report are drawn from the annual Scottish Stroke Care Audit where health boards are encouraged to give an honest appraisal of their performance, so they can identify service deficits and work to improve standards of care.

John Watson concludes: “This year’s report shows a mixed bag of stroke care delivery. Acute care is still at the mercy of wider hospital systems failures such as bottlenecks in A&E while psychological and emotional support is a long way from where it needs to be.”

Public health minister Jenni Minto said the Scottish Government was “focused on ensuring people who have had a stroke receive the best possible care as quickly as possible to enable them to live longer, healthier and more independent lives”.

Ms Minto added: “We will continue to work with health boards to drive up standards of local care.

“We know there is more to do but it is pleasing to see a rise in the number of patients receiving thrombectomy treatment. We will continue work towards increasing access to these procedures.

“We have invested more than £51 million and are grateful to teams across Scotland for helping to expand the thrombectomy service.”

The Stroke Association supports stroke survivors and their families online, by phone and in the community. Anyone affected by stroke can find out more at www.stroke.org.uk/scotland.

Alternatively you can call the dedicated Stroke Support Helpline on 0303 3033 100 for information, guidance or a chat when times are tough.

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