10/12/07 - NHS stroke plan 'will save lives'

The government is promising its 10-year stroke strategy for England will save thousands of lives by ensuring people get quicker access to care.

Ministers will call for more awareness, fast diagnosis through brain scans and immediate access to drugs.

They believe these measures can save 6,800 deaths and cases of disability and prevent 1,600 strokes.

A £105m pot has been set aside for training and awareness campaigns, but critics said the plans were overdue.

Many have argued - and the government accepted - that improvements in stroke care have not kept pace with the developments seen with cancer and heart disease services.

STROKE STRATEGY: IN BRIEF
Immediate access to brain scans, and clot-busting treatment if necessary, for people who have had stroke

MRI scans to be available for people who have mini-strokes to assess risk of a full one in future

A £12m fund to run awareness raising campaigns

Money set aside for training of doctors and nurses to staff specialist units

This is a momentous opportunity to transform the outcomes and lives of stroke survivors

Jon Barrick, of the Stroke Association

Source: BBC