Stroke patients set to receive 'revolutionary' treatment to reduce risk of long-term disability

Thousands of stroke patients are set to benefit from an advanced emergency treatment which can significantly decrease the risk of long-term disability.

Around 8,000 people per year who suffer a severe form of ischaemic stroke are set to benefit from a mechanical thrombectomy, a 'revolutionary' procedure designed to dislodge and remove the blockage, restoring blood flow.

The treatment is set to be introduced to all 24 neuroscience centres across England later this year and has been welcomed by stroke charities who say it will boost survival rates and improve the standard of living for people recovering from strokes.

Juliet Bouverie, chief executive at the Stroke Association, said: "Thrombectomy is a real game changer which can save lives and reduce the chances of someone being severely disabled after a stroke. Stroke is the fourth biggest killer in the UK, and a leading cause of disability. Current treatment options are limited and do not always work.

"This decision by NHS England could give thousands of critically ill stroke patients an increased chance of making a better recovery. It could mean more stroke survivors living independently in their own homes, returning to work and taking control of their lives again as a result. And this will undoubtedly lower NHS and social care costs for stroke.

"However, thrombectomy is a complicated procedure. Its delivery across England will need significant changes to NHS stroke services, as well as an increase in the number of trained professionals who can carry out the procedure so that as many people as possible can benefit from this powerful new treatment."

Stroke is the fourth single leading cause of death in the UK

More than 100,000 strokes occur in the UK each year and are estimated to cost the NHS around £3bn annually.

The mechanical thrombectomy procedure has been shown in clinical trials to significantly improve survival rates and quality of life by restoring blood flow and limiting brain damage.

The procedure is part of NHS England’s plans to introduce leading and innovative health care as set out in the Next Steps for the NHS Five Year Forward View.

Professor Tony Rudd, national clinical director for stroke at NHS England, said: "Stroke can be devastating for patients and their loved ones – both at the time and the long-term impact it can have on their everyday lives.

"The quality of care and survival rates for stroke are now at record levels, and NHS England is committed to fast-tracking new and effective treatments – particularly, as in this case, where they deliver long-term benefits for both patients and the taxpayer.

"We will therefore now be working with and investing in specialist stroke services across the country to ensure we can introduce this out to all patients who would benefit, as soon as possible."

Innovative modern care

St George's University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in London is the first in the UK to provide a 24/7 thrombectomy service for acute stroke.

Dr Jeremy Madigan, consultant diagnostic and interventional neuroradiologist at St George’s, believes it is "great news" for patients.

"At St George’s, our patients are benefiting from the thrombectomy service we provide – with an 80-90 per cent chance of opening blocked vessels via this technique, compared to 30 per cent with traditional clot-busting drugs," he said.

"Patients with acute stroke require a range of different interventions, but providing a thrombectomy service – including at all times of the day, as we do at St George’s - radically improves the range and mix of interventions available to us as clinicians."

NHS England and Health Education England will work with trusts to increase the number of centres capable of providing thrombectomy to patients with certain types of acute ischaemic stroke.

NHS chief executive, Simon Stevens, praised the move, saying: "This major national upgrade to stroke services puts the NHS at the leading edge of stroke care internationally.

"It's another practical example of the NHS quietly expanding innovative modern care that will really benefit patients, but which tends to be invisible in the public debate about the NHS."

The Stroke Helpline (0303 303 3100) provides information and support on stroke. More information can be found at www.stroke.org.uk