NHS stroke specialists needs to triple to meet patient demand

A new report from the British Association of Stroke Physicians has claimed that an additional 226 full-time stroke consultants are required to meet the current needs of patients in the UK.

Showing the number of stroke consultants required to meet the needs of patients in the UK and address the worrying shortfall of existing specialists, the association says that the increase in staff, which is 33 per cent on current levels, is needed to ensure the best available treatment for those affected by one of the largest causes of death in the UK.

The growing deficit risks leaving UK stroke services unable to keep pace with advances in stroke care. Immediate access to procedures can significantly decrease the risk of long-term disability and save millions of pounds in long term health and social care costs. However, without the right provision of specialists, patients may not have swift access to the best available treatments.   

The British Association of Stroke Physicians is calling for comprehensive stroke medicine training within the teaching curriculum of parent specialities, increased promotion of stroke medicine at undergraduate level and an increase in the proportion of time that can be committed to stroke medicine, as part of stroke consultants’ job plans.

Tom Robinson, President of the British Association of Stroke Physicians, said: “Stroke can be devastating for patients and their families, but the sooner a person receives treatment, the less damage is likely to happen. With more than 100,000 strokes in the UK each year, we must urgently address the deficit in stroke staff to ensure that everyone has access to specialist care as quickly as possible.

“Great advances have been made in the treatment available to patients, but to offer these treatments to as many patients as possible, we need more doctors to be trained in stroke medicine, and to encourage increased take-up of this vital specialism among medical students.

“Improving stroke care and modernising the stroke workforce is a key part of the NHS Long Term Plan, and we look forward to working with NHS England and others to help give everyone affected by stroke the best possible care.”