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RCP on quality of stroke care

RCP on quality of stroke care

New quarterly figures showing the quality of stroke care in hospitals in England and Northern Ireland are now available on the Royal College of Physicians website: www.rcplondon.ac.uk

Hospitals taking part in SINAP, the continuous national stroke audit which looks in detail at the first 72 hours of care, have supplied information on aspects of patient care, including:

· How many patients had a brain scan within 1 hour (nationally, 32% compared to 30% in the previous quarter)
· How many patients had a brain scan within 24 hours (nationally, 86% compared to 85% in the previous quarter)
· How many patients saw a stroke consultant within 24 hours (nationally, 82% compared to 79% in the previous quarter)
· Whether or not the patient is admitted directly to a stroke unit, and whether or not they reached the unit within 4 hours (nationally, 61% compared to 55% in the previous quarter)

· Whether or not the patient received thrombolysis (clot busting drug) when they were potentially eligible for it (nationally, 54% compared to 52% in the previous quarter)

· Whether or not the prognosis/diagnosis was discussed with a relative/carer within 72 hours where applicable (nationally, 86% compared to 86% in the previous quarter)

· Whether or not the patient had a continence plan drawn up within 72 hours where applicable (nationally, 68% compared to 60% in the previous quarter)

· Whether the patient was seen by nurse and one therapist within 24 hours and all relevant therapists within 72 hours (nationally, 57% compared to 53% in the previous quarter)

· and other standards, which are included in the full results spreadsheet

The audit, commissioned by the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership (HQIP), is carried out on behalf of the Intercollegiate Stroke Working Party by the Royal College of Physicians’ Clinical Standards Department. It is a continuous audit, taking place all year round until 31st March 2012, with hospitals submitting data on patients as they are admitted and treated. Individual hospital results are available on the College website from today and this includes details of hospitals which are eligible to participate in the audit but did not submit sufficient (or any) data.

Notes to Editors

For further information please contact RCP PR Manager Linda Cuthbertson 020 3075 1254, 07748 777919, linda.cuthbertson@rcplondon.ac.uk

The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) plays a leading role in the delivery of high quality patient care by setting standards of medical practice and promoting clinical excellence. We provide physicians in the United Kingdom and overseas with education, training and support throughout their careers. As an independent body representing over 25,000 fellows and members worldwide, we advise and work with government, the public, patients and other professions to improve health and healthcare.

About HQIP: The Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership (HQIP) is led by a consortium of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, the Royal College of Nursing and National Voices. Its aim is to promote quality improvement, and in particular to increase the impact of clinical audit in England and Wales. HQIP hosts the contract to manage and develop the National Clinical Audit and Patient Outcomes Programme (NCAPOP). The programme comprises approximately 30 clinical audits that cover care provided to people with a wide range of medical, surgical and mental health conditions.

Linda Cuthbertson | PR Manager
External Affairs | Royal College of Physicians
11 St Andrews Place | Regent’s Park | London NW1 4LE

Direct line +44 (0)20 3075 1254 | Mobile +44 (0)7748 777919
Email linda.cuthbertson@rcplondon.ac.uk| Fax +44 (0)20 7486 5425

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