Stroke: East Midlands

Mr. Stewart Jackson
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what strategy he is pursuing to ensure that the maximum number of patients in the Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust area have access to a computed axial topography scan within 24 hours of their stroke-related condition being diagnosed; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen
The new stroke strategy for England launched in December 2007, sets out the changes needed in the emergency management of strokes, and national support is available to drive improvements to acute care for both transient ischaemic attack (minor stroke) and stroke. All hospitals now provide computed tomography scanning and by far the majority also provide magnetic resonance imaging and carotid doppler.

We have made stroke a top priority for the national health service and this has been recognised in the recently issued NHS Operating Framework for 2009-10, where implementing the stroke strategy remains a Tier 1 Vital Sign: that is a ‘must do’ for the NHS.