Skip Navigation
RSS

News

CHARITY WELCOMES STROKE STRATEGY

Monday 9 June 2008

Northern Ireland Chest, Heart and Stroke has broadly welcomed the Stroke Strategy launched today by the Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey.
But the charity said its operation would have to be closely monitored to ensure that services were available in every area and would not be subject to a postcode lottery.
“We are glad to see that at long last, stroke sufferers in Northern Ireland will be assessed for receiving clot-busting drugs, 10 years after these drugs first became routinely available in the US. We want to see a working group set up quickly to iron out any potential practical problems so that there is no delay to the introduction of this treatment,” said Chief Executive Andrew Dougal.

CHARITY WELCOMES STROKE STRATEGY
Northern Ireland Chest, Heart and Stroke has broadly welcomed the Stroke Strategy launched today by the Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey.
But the charity said its operation would have to be closely monitored to ensure that services were available in every area and would not be subject to a postcode lottery.
"We are glad to see that at long last, stroke sufferers in Northern Ireland will be assessed for receiving clot-busting drugs, 10 years after these drugs first became routinely available in the US. We want to see a working group set up quickly to iron out any potential practical problems so that there is no delay to the introduction of this treatment," said Chief Executive Andrew Dougal.
"Some of the positive changes in the final version of the strategy came about because of the input from patients and their carers, whose opinions we passed on to the Department," he added.
"It's essential that the Stroke Strategy works in tandem with the Carers' Strategy to ensure the best possible deal for carers, who work so hard on behalf of their loved ones and take a great deal of pressure off the Health Service."

Ends

[BACK TO TOP]