A step is being taken towards a national stroke treatment service that can dramatically improve patient outcomes with the launch of a pilot initiative in the east of Scotland.

The mechanical thrombectomy service, which will be based at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, is the second in the country after a training programme for the north of Scotland launched in Tayside.

It forms part of a government commitment to extend coverage across the country by 2023.

Thrombectomy involves using a long tube inserted into an artery in the leg then navigated to the brain to remove serious blood clots that cause severe strokes.

It is thought around 600 people in Scotland could benefit from the procedure every year, if it was to be available nationally.

John Watson, Associate Director of the Stroke Association in Scotland, said: “This service is long awaited, overdue, but very welcome indeed.”

“Around one in every three people who receive a thrombectomy following their stroke will be less disabled as a result. Around one in five will be able to function completely independently afterwards.”

Thrombectomy can be used to remove larger blood clots that cannot be broken down using so-called ‘clot-buster’ medication.

72-year-old Alison Maclean, who had a stroke in January 2021, received the treatment at Ninewells hospital. She made a full recovery from a severe stroke that could have led to permanent disability.

She said: “I feel great, just the same and I am back to doing all the things I did before my stroke: seeing friends and family, reading, watching telly, going on my exercise bike and for walks.”

The Stroke Association is calling on the Scottish government to reform pathways for stroke patients.

“We want all eligible patients to have access to this game-changing treatment, as quickly as possible” said John Watson. “But thrombectomy cannot deliver in isolation. It needs to be part of a new, re-shaped service covering the whole pathway from 999 call, to hospital treatment, recovery and rehabilitation.”

“The Scottish Government recognises the need for stroke improvements, which is extremely encouraging. It already has a draft framework of what its own advisors, stroke clinicians and the wider stroke community including the Stroke Association want to see. This is the result of good work by all involved.

“We look forward to seeing the final report and recommendations at the end of the year. But of course, it is the delivery of change and improvement that really matters so we look forward even more, to a commitment early next year to publish a plan to deliver on it.”

 

Read More: Stroke services cope well despite pandemic pressure; Survey targets stroke treatment ‘blind spots’; Insight: Mapping pathways to transform the NHS.

 

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