To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will commission research into the time taken for the East of England region stroke patients to receive a brain scan; and if he will make a statement. (191353)

A national sentinel audit for stroke has been carried out by the Royal College of Physicians since 1998. The latest audit in 2006 was funded by the Healthcare Commission. The aims of the audit include enabling national health service trusts, including those in the East of England region, to evaluate the quality of their stroke services by comparison with national standards. The audits results cover facilities for and access to brain scans. A further audit will be undertaken in 2008. The 2006 audit is available on the Royal College of Physicians website at:

www.rcplondon.ac.uk/pubs/books/strokeaudit/