The Department of Health has updated the NHS Stroke Strategy 2009, which aims to improve comprehensive care for the disease, from prevention to rehabilitation; and to this end it introduces six priority strategic areas, from training to care, including stroke units.
This new version includes the latest scientific evidence and the European Stroke Action Plan 2018–2030. The first of the six areas is health promotion and primary prevention: aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle to prevent up to 80–90% of cases; The second involves secondary prevention, aimed at preventing recurrence in people who have already had a stroke; and thirdly, assistance in the acute phase for the rapid and effective organization of care, diagnosis and treatment.
On the other hand, stroke units are ranked fourth, with priority treatment in specialized units to improve recovery and reduce mortality; This is followed by neurorehabilitation and life after stroke with comprehensive support for the functional recovery and quality of life of patients and finally research and education with the promotion of research and education that contribute to the continuous improvement of stroke care.
Key targets for 2030, according to the European Action Plan, include reducing the incidence of stroke by 10% in Europe, treating 90% of patients in stroke units and ensuring continuity of care to move from prevention to support in life after stroke.
“Stroke is preventable and treatable,” say the Strategy’s coordinators, “and the new update is a fundamental step in delivering comprehensive, evidence-based care across the country,” they note on the occasion of World Stroke Day, which is celebrated this Tuesday.
For its part, the Ministry of Health reaffirms its commitment to collaborate with all agents involved to reduce the impact of this disease and guarantee equal access to high-quality services for all citizens.