NHS plans for faster treatment of strokes "will save thousands of lives"



[ad_1]

SAll these changes may be controversial as they cause large hospitals to lose important services, which can fuel political quarrels.

But charities said the measures were crucial to saving lives, urging NHS leaders not to delay making such changes.

Juliet Bouverie, Executive Director of the Stroke Association, warned that "lost time is brain loss."

She said, "When a stroke occurs, a part of your brain stops. And a part of you too.

"It's because a cerebrovascular accident occurs in the brain, the control center of who we are and what we can do.

"Evidence shows that the reorganization of stroke services to create centers of excellence in stroke saves more lives and allows survivors to leave the hospital earlier to start their lives." convalescence at home.

A stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is cut off, caused by a clot or internal bleeding.

Each year, more than 150,000 Britons suffer from stroke, which is the leading cause of complex disability.

The units have been operating in London since 2010 and in Manchester since 2015.

Before their introduction, patients were taken to the emergency department of the nearest hospital in the capital for immediate care, followed by treatment in a general ward.

An independent change analysis showed that patients are now more likely to receive the right treatment sooner and are therefore more likely to survive and recover faster.

The University College London study, funded by the National Institute for Health Research, examined data from 500,000 patient hospitalizations between 2008 and 2016 and compared the survival rate to stroke and the time spent by patients in London and Greater Manchester hospitals compared to others. urban areas in England.

Lead researcher Professor Naomi Fulop said, "Our research provides strong evidence for the centralization of stroke services in urban areas, which could mean that patients are driven by ambulance to their local hospital to a specialized center to save lives "

More than three out of five strokes could be prevented if major triggers were treated, such as reducing high blood pressure and increasing cholesterol.

Professor Powis also wants the NHS to prevent more strokes, by providing lifestyle advice and medication sooner.

NHS England has launched a 9 million pound program to help 20,000 people with heart problems in 23 regions with the highest rates of stroke.

The program will see specialist nurses and clinical pharmacists identify patients with atrial fibrillation who have heart problems, but receive no treatment, so that they can offer lifestyle counseling and help them get the appropriate treatment.

Chiefs of health hope that this will prevent about 700 strokes and save about 200 lives.

More than three out of five strokes could be prevented if major triggers were treated, such as reducing high blood pressure and increasing cholesterol.

[ad_2]
Source link