The Scottish Government Has Failed Stroke Survivors 

• For the seventh straight year the Scottish Government has failed to meet its own stroke care bundle target 
• Just over half of  the 11,341 Scots who had a stroke last year got access to necessary standards of treatment  

• Scotland is lagging even further behind other nations when it comes to the delivery of life-changing thrombectomy  

 

The Scottish Government has failed to meet its own targets for stroke care bundle delivery for the seventh successive year. 

Figures released today from Public Heath Scotland’s Scottish Stroke Improvement Programme reveal the country is falling unacceptably short of its own target of 80% of stroke patients receiving an inpatient bundle. The bundle, which includes aspirin, access to a stroke unit, brain imaging, and a swallow screening was given to just 52.9 per cent of Scotland’s 11,341 stroke patients.   

Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, the country’s largest health charity, is urging the Scottish Government to make stroke care an urgent priority as well as demanding widespread improvements for the delivery of thrombectomy, a potentially life-changing procedure. 

Only 212 thrombectomy procedures were delivered in 2024, which is just 2.2% of eligible ischaemic stroke patients. Although this is an increase from 153 in 2023, this is still well below other comparable nations. The Scottish Stroke Improvement Plan sets a target of 10%, underscoring the urgent need to accelerate progress. 

Stroke is still one of the biggest causes of long-term adult disability in Scotland, and the quality of care is crucial for recovery.   

Allan Cowie, chief operating officer at Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, said: “Unfortunately, once again, the statistics laid out by Public Health Scotland make for grim reading. 

“This is the seventh straight year that the Scottish Government has failed to hit its own targets for stroke care. This government has failed stroke survivors and is failing our NHS colleagues who are doing the absolute best they can with the inadequate resources they’re currently being given. 

Scotland is also falling further behind similar-sized nations, such as the Republic of Ireland, in the delivery of potentially life-changing thrombectomy procedures. Just 1.6% of suitable stroke patients in Scotland received a thrombectomy in 2023, rising only slightly to 2.2% in 2024, compared to 10.8% in the Republic of Ireland. While Scotland’s rate has improved marginally, the disparity remains stark. This is unacceptable. 

“CHSS has consistently called for vast improvements in stroke care for years and we campaigned for the national thrombectomy service rollout in 2017, but it is still not being delivered consistently. 

“While we recognise the financial constraints facing the government, the continued underinvestment in stroke care is resulting in significantly higher long-term costs – both through prolonged hospital stays and the extensive support required for individuals living with stroke-related disabilities. This ongoing shortfall is not only economically unsustainable but is also costing lives. Immediate action is imperative.” 

 

 

“It’s frustrating and it makes me feel really sad to see people in that situation.” 

That disparity in stroke care is being felt on the front lines.  

Katie Lambert, a CHSS stroke nurse, knows how important critical stroke care can be in a person’s health outcome. 

When patients get home from hospital, CHSS stroke nurses will speak to the stroke survivor after discharge and give them information, advice and support related to their stroke. 

But longer waiting times for services such as blood pressure checks are increasing the stress in stroke survivors. 

Katie said: “I think we have all noticed changes in the times people are having to wait for services like social services, rehabilitation, home care services and GPs. This is increasing stress in stroke survivors. People seem to be more stressed, anxious, and they find it harder to get routine appointments with GPs.  

“That can have a knock-on effect on a person’s ongoing stroke prevention risk because if you can’t get an appointment with your doctor to talk about your worries, then it’s obviously going to have a detrimental effect to your health. 

“I think there’s just a general sense of more worry, distress, anxiety and people are feeling less confident in the services.” 

Katie added: “I think it would be helpful for there to be more funding in general for stroke services. 

“In our CHSS nurse service, we’re fortunate we do get to spend more time with people than a lot of other services do. But stroke services would benefit from more funding, particularly community rehabilitation and making sure people have access to the services they need in a timely manner. 

“It certainly doesn’t feel good when you come off a phone call, or leave a home visit, where somebody who’s been incredibly distressed because they need a service to help them but there’s a long waiting list. That person is stuck in the system waiting. Afterwards you feel like you can’t do any more. 

“It’s frustrating and it makes me feel really sad to see people in that situation.” 

 

“Thrombectomy is a gamechanger” 

Michael Macdonald, 33, lives in Newton Mearns and is a two-time stroke survivor.  

Through quick treatment, intensive rehabilitation and support from Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, Michael was able to make a good recovery. 

At 33, Michael received a thrombectomy after his first stroke and feels “lucky” to have received the procedure. 

Michael said: “I didn’t realise this procedure is only available 9-5, Monday to Friday. I got to hospital at 4.30 in the afternoon, and I was lucky that the stroke team decided I needed to be treated right away, and they all stayed to do that. 

“Now, knowing the difference thrombectomy can make in recovery, I think it’s essential that this procedure is available to everyone, no matter where you live or what time you are admitted to hospital. It’s a gamechanger where stroke recovery is concerned.”