Region lags over stroke survival successes

The National Audit Office study says survival rates from strokes have increased as tens of millions of pounds are pumped into dealing with the country's third-biggest killer. Around 110,000 people each year suffer strokes, costing the NHS 3bn.

But the report warns too few patients are being admitted to specialist stroke units – with fewer than half of patients in Yorkshire spending 90 per cent of their hospital stay receiving dedicated care in the units compared with 57 per cent on average nationally between July and September.

It finds access to brain scans and clot-busting drugs is limited on weekends and evenings.

A third of patients do not get a follow-up appointment within six weeks and only a half of stroke survivors are given advice as they leave hospital on preventing another stroke.

The Government launched its national stroke strategy in 2007. Since 2006 the report estimates a stroke patient's chances of dying within 10 years has fallen from 71 per cent to 67 per cent.

Amyas Morse, head of the National Audit Office, said care had "significantly improved" since 2005 when it called for urgent improvements.

"The publication and early implementation of the stroke strategy have begun to make a real difference and have helped to put in place the right mechanisms to bring about these improvements," he said.

"There is still work to be done though: The poorer performers must be dragged up to the same standard as the best, so that the gains that have been made are sustained and value for money improved further."

Nikki Hill, of the Stroke Association, said: "We are pleased to see the improvements to stroke services in the last five years that have seen more people surviving a stroke and fewer people left to cope with the effects of severe disabilities.

"The welcome improvements in acute care must be matched by post-hospital support so that stroke survivors get the level of care and support they need irrespective of where they live."

Health Minister Ann Keen said: "We recognise that more progress needs to be made, and while the focus to date has rightly been on improving the care for patients admitted to hospital for stroke, we now need to build on the support available to them following their treatment."