Written answers

Tuesday, 25 March 2014

Department of Health

National Stroke Programme

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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1109. To ask the Minister for Health if an audit of stroke services and thromobolysis rates has been carried out by the national stroke programme; the outcome of the audit; if he will provide the up to date thrombolysis rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13607/14]

Photo of James ReillyJames Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Improvements in Stroke services were envisioned in the "Changing Cardiovascular Health; Cardiovascular Health Policy 2010 - 2019" which was launched in 2010. The policy establishes a framework for the prevention, detection and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, including stroke, which seeks to ensure an integrated and quality assured approach in their management, so as to reduce the burden of these conditions. The implementation of the National Stroke Programme, since 2011 to date has resulted in improved services for stroke patients. One of the programme's targets was to increase the rate of safe thrombolysis from 3% to 7.5% by the end of 2013. In 2013 the HSE reported a national stroke thrombolysis rate of 10.5% for the third quarter of that year, which exceeded targets and is comparable to the highest rates internationally.

The national 24/7 access to safe stroke thrombolysis is progressing, with emergency thrombolysis provided now to patients in all regions of the country, via improved hospital and ambulance protocols, health professional training and the appointment of new physicians. available now in 23 hospitals. As mentioned earlier, significant improvements in thrombolysis rates have been noted as high as 10/5% in the third quarter of 2013. The National Stroke Programme is currently planning the second national audit of stroke care, to independently validate data provided via the HIPE system. The audit will include a review of the organisation of stroke care at hospital level and the outcome of care for the patient. Previous national and international audits of acute stroke care will inform the methods used in order to all for comparison of the findings.

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