Lincolnshire is worst area for stroke care

The DH published statistics for each PCT area in England last week, covering performance for the first quarter of 2011-12. The data showed that Lincolnshire fared worse than its East Midlands neighbours and other predominantly rural counties.

The figures showed that on average 69 per cent of transient ischaemic attack patients with a high stroke risk were treated within 24 hours. However, in Lincolnshire, the figure was just 14.5 per cent, or eight out of 55 cases.

The next worst figure was for Worcestershire with 15 per cent. Although the percentage was zero for Tameside and Glossop and South East Essex PCTs, these had only five and four cases respectively.

Lincolnshire also fared worse than its neighbours including North Lincolnshire, whose percentage was 37.5, while Leicestershire County and Rutland achieved a score of 75 per cent.

Another set of DH figures showed that Lincolnshire patients were less likely to be cared for in a dedicated stroke unit.

Nationally, 78 per cent of patients spent at least 90 per cent of their time in a dedicated unit. Lincolnshire scored the lowest figure with 45 per cent out of 223 cases.

Hastings and Rother PCT achieved the next worse figure with 50.5 per cent.