Letter: Stroke care must be improved

Letter: I have every sympathy with W Brazier (Letters, March 1) and his concern about stroke care. Last September I pointed out the need for an improvement in stroke services in Shropshire. Officers from Shropshire County Primary Care Trust (PCT) gave reassuring responses.

In January of this year the PCT received a report indicating that Shropshire's record on strokes was the worst in our group of nine PCTs and in the worst quarter of PCTs in the country. I repeat my challenge for stroke care.

All strokes should be admitted as an emergency. All strokes should be admitted to a stroke unit. All transient ischaemic attacks, or mini-strokes, should have a scan within 24 hours.

All stroke patients should start rehabilitation (with physiotherapy and speech therapy as appropriate) straight away.

I hope that the Shropshire County PCT will be able to report progress towards better care when it meets on March 23.

Dr Charles West

Shrewsbury