BMA wins more emphasis on stroke prevention
3 January 2013
The Welsh government has said it plans to deliver world-class care for stroke patients, after it launched a new strategy aimed at improving services.
Together for Health — Stroke Delivery Plan: Our Vision (PDF) was launched by health and social services minister Lesley Griffiths last month after a three-month consultation. It is a framework to guide the NHS on stroke care until 2016.
BMA Cymru Wales had backed the vision for stroke services as ‘well-placed’, but said more emphasis was needed on preventive measures.
In its response to the consultation, it said: ‘Even the best of modern treatment for stroke will have very limited effect on the wider population. Prevention, on the other hand, can easily be shown to have a much larger and positive effect. More detail on preventive measures would be more effective.’
Call for targets
An action plan to deliver the policy (PDF) agrees Welsh health boards need to identify, implement and audit specific targets to prevent stroke, particularly around reducing smoking, obesity and excess alcohol intake.
It also says there should be a more systematic and coordinated approach to identifying those at risk of vascular disease and atrial fibrillation, and managing that risk effectively.
The Welsh government said all responses to the consultation were considered and influenced the drafting of the plan before final publication.
Ms Griffiths said: ‘The NHS has a significant contribution to make and a leading role working with other partners, in tackling stroke and its consequences.’