Written question WQ86615

Welsh Government published a Quality Statement for Stroke in September 2021, this outlines the quality attributes of safe high quality stroke services. To drive forward improvements in stroke services a service specification is being developed to embed the Quality Statement into practice and NHS planning. Our aim is for people of all ages to have the lowest possible risk of having a stroke, and, when it does occur, to have an excellent chance of surviving and returning to independence as quickly as possible.

The Stroke Implementation Group (SIG) support NHS organisations in Wales to take the Quality Statement forward. This will be further supported by the newly established National Stroke Programme Board and stroke programme team. Both the SIG and Board are comprised of members from all Health Boards, Wales Ambulance Service Trust (WAST), third sector and academia.

Stroke is a clinical diagnosis, so patients will have symptoms by definition. If the terminology ‘silent stroke’ is being used to describe an incidental finding of ischaemic changes on the brain without symptoms, the focus would be on primary prevention; reduced smoking & alcohol consumption, blood pressure management, weight management, diabetes and cholesterol control. This kind of primary prevention is a key area of focus within the Quality Statement and will feature strongly as the service specification evolves.

Members of the SIG and stroke programme team work closely with WAST on a number of projects to improve the stroke pathway, including a pre-hospital assessment pilot using digital technology to enable paramedics to be in direct contact with the stroke team, and education being delivered to the BSc course in paramedicine at Swansea University and to paramedics as a part of their continued professional development.