Scottish Stroke Care Audit


Scottish Stroke Care Audit: 2013 National Report of Stroke Services in Scottish Hospitals.

      Download PDF file SSCA Report 2013 [2000kb]            Download PDF file Public Summary 2013 [1995kb]

                    Download PDF SSCA report                                 Download PDF SSCA public summary        

Paper editions of the above are available, please contact Hazel Dodds for a copy.

Data tables/charts from the Report (only available on-line)

SSCA 2013 National Report Tables and Charts Download Excel Download
1250kb
SSCA 2013 National Report RAG Health Board Charts Download Excel Download
824kb

Introduction

The Scottish Stroke Care Audit (SSCA) 2013 Annual National Report includes data describing the quality of stroke care in each acute hospital, grouped by NHS Board, during 2012, measuring each hospital against NHS QIS standards (2009). The report also details data relating to the Stroke Admission HEAT Target implemented on 1st April 2011. The full report can be found at http://www.strokeaudit.scot.nhs.uk/Reports.html from 0930hrs on Tuesday 9th July 2013.

Key Points

The Stroke Admission HEAT Target was implemented on 1st April 2011 and measured to 31st March 2013.

“To improve stroke care, 90% of all patients admitted with a diagnosis of stroke will be admitted to a Stroke Unit on the day of admission or the day following presentation by March 2013.” Increased from 71% in 2010/11 (pre-HEAT) to 80% (post-HEAT).

The other four key NHS QIS quality standards for stroke are:

1. All patients should have a swallow screen on the day of admission. In 2012 68% (2011 - 65%) of patients had a swallow screen recorded on the day of admission.

3. At least 80% should have a brain scan on the day of admission. In 2012 59% (2011 - 57%) of patients had a brain scan on the day of admission.

4. All patients with ischaemic stroke should receive aspirin on the day of admission or the day after unless contraindicated. In 2012 76% (2011 - 72%) of ischaemic stroke patients received aspirin by the day after admission.

5. 80% should be seen within 7 days from referral. In 2012 91% (2011 - 83%) of patients seen in neurovascular clinics were seen within 7 days.

In other areas there have been important increases in the number of patients receiving thrombolysis within 1 hour of hospital admission (29% in 2012, compared to 18% in 2010). However, it is clear significant work still needs to be done in this area to meet the current standard of 80%.

A ‘bundle analysis’ for patients who would have been eligible for the HEAT target in 2012/13 is presented in the 2013 National Report (chart 2) and confirms that patients admitted to a Stroke Unit within one day of presentation achieve more standards than those admitted after this or those never admitted to a Stroke Unit. Again there is more work required to ensure that all patients receive all aspects of the stroke care bundle.

Background

The Scottish Stroke Care Audit monitors the quality of care provided by the hospitals in all NHS Boards by collating data collected by the Managed Clinical Networks (MCNs). These data are used by the Scottish Government to monitor progress against the NHS QIS standards for stroke (2009), the Stroke Admission HEAT Target (2011) and the Better Heart Disease and Stroke Care Action Plan published in 2009. The NHS QIS standards for stroke (2009) were reviewed and updated in 2012 and the new Scottish Stroke Care Standards were launched on 1st January 2013.

NHS Boards are expected to identify aspects of their stroke services which do not meet National Standards and to work with their stroke MCNs to improve their standards of care.

Contacts

Name/email   Telephone
Professor Martin Dennis SSCA Clinical Lead 0131 537 1719   
Hazel Dodds National Clinical Coordinator 0131 275 7184
David Murphy Senior Information Analyst 0131 275 6624
Moranne MacGillivray Quality Assurance Manager 031 275 7615
Alan Reekie Senior Information Analyst 0131 275 6705

Further Information

Further information can be found in the full SSCA 2013 National Report at http://www.strokeaudit.scot.nhs.uk/Reports.html or on the ISD website