THOUSANDS of patients are being put at risk of major strokes because the NHS is failing to give them critical surgery in time, a Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) national audit has revealed.
Every year around 50,000 people in the UK suffer from a transient ischaemic attack (TIA). The episodes, also known as ‘mini-strokes’, can cause temporary facial weakness, pins and needles and speech problems. Guidance from the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence says an operation, known as a Carotid Endarterectomy, should take place within two weeks of a patient suffering symptoms.
But an audit of 4,250 patients across England and Wales who suffered mini-strokes in 2015 found that 43 per cent were forced to wait longer. Overall, average waits at specialist units ranged from six days to 55 days.
The surgical procedure involves removing plaque that has built-up in the carotid artery in the front of the neck. This prevents a further potential blockage of blood flowing to the brain – and a major stroke.
RCS research shows more than four in ten patients who suffer from a ‘mini-stroke’ are not being given vital treatment within the two weeks recommended. At some trusts, those in need of urgent surgery are being forced to wait an average of almost two months, the study shows.
Alexis Wieroniey, deputy director of policy at the Stroke Association, commented on the findings: ‘We are deeply concerned to see that, across the country, mini-stroke patients face lengthy delays for vital treatment, with several hospital units not meeting the two week recommended time frame for surgery.’
He added: ‘We urgently need the government to introduce a new stroke strategy to put an end to this alarming variation in stroke care, and ensure that people have access to the urgent treatment they need, no matter the severity of their stroke, or where they live.’
The Royal College called for urgent action by hospitals to stop patients being left to suffer ‘devastating consequences’ which might easily have been avoided. The study found 75 per cent of those undergoing surgery were over the age of 65, while 68 per cent were male.
North London BMA chair Anna Athow said: ‘Patients who have mini-strokes must have surgery to address the cause within two weeks. This is to prevent a full stroke, which can cause severe disability or death.
‘Mini-strokes, called severe transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs) are reversible but are a warning symptom that a full stroke will develop without treatment. Patients with TIAs should be treated as an emergency. The guidelines state that any patient with a TIA should have surgery (carotid endarterectomy) within two weeks.
‘A study by the Royal College of Surgeons has shown that only 40% of TIA patients are getting their surgery within two weeks. At ten specialist units average waits for the operation are over three weeks. Of the 50,000 patients who get a TIA in Britain each year, 20,000 are not getting timely operations and are at risk of stroke.’
Athow stressed: ‘Strokes are the single biggest cause of significant adult disability in the UK. The Stroke Association estimates that 10,000 strokes could be prevented each year if TIAs were treated in time.’
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