Stroke Improvement Plan: College comments

College comments on new Stroke Improvement Plan.

The Scottish Government today published its new Stroke Improvement Plan

Commenting, Professor Andrew Elder, President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, said:

The College welcomes the aims of the Stroke Improvement Plan and considers that there are many positive elements within the new plan.

We are fully supportive of efforts to focus on prevention and awareness, increase thrombolysis and expand access to the national thrombectomy service- something which we have called for for many years and which is vital.

However, fundamental to improving stroke treatment and outcomes is the provision of an adequate number of highly trained NHS staff across many disciplines, including stroke physicians, geriatricians and radiologists. We will continue to press the Scottish Government to intensify efforts around recruitment and retention so that all those who experience a stroke have access to the best possible treatment and care.