Portsmouth stroke care below target despite improvements

In the final quarter of 2010-11 which ended on 31 March, 75 per cent of admitted stroke patients spent at least 90 per cent of their time at an acute stroke unit.

This was up from 65 per cent on the previous quarter, and a marked improvement on the 2010-11 average of 52 per cent. However, it was still short of the year-end target of 80 per cent.

According to Portsmouth City Teaching PCT’s performance report, the continued underperformance against the target was due to “inconsistencies in admission practice”, late diagnosis, winter pressures, and delays in transferring patients to nursing homes or palliative care.

The actions being taken by the PCT to hit the target included clarifying the direct admissions process with GPs this month and also integrating current performance meetings with local acute Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust.