This latest report on stroke care received between April 2025 and March 2026 highlights continued improvements across several areas of stroke care, while identifying important opportunities to reduce variation and improve patient outcomes further.
The findings highlight the complex nature of this disease, requiring a skilled multidisciplinary specialist team across the patient’s entire journey
It shows sustained progress in key aspects of the stroke pathway, including timely brain imaging, access to specialist stroke unit care, delivery of thrombectomy services, and the expansion of community-based rehabilitation support. It also highlights the increasing adoption of Integrated Community Stroke Services, supporting the NHS ambition to provide more care closer to home.
The report also identifies ongoing challenges such as pre-hospital delays, unwarranted variation between services and the need to expand access to specialist treatments. The findings provide important insights for healthcare providers, commissioners and policymakers seeking to deliver high-quality, equitable stroke care across England and Wales.
With key five national recommendations, the report also provides valuable intelligence for NHS England, the Welsh Government and health boards, integrated care systems, stroke networks, and provider organisations as they work to improve equity, effectiveness and outcomes across stroke services.
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