Take Up Stroke report from Benjamin Jaa Ming New covering the changes stroke medicine has undergone since the 2019 BASP workforce challenges is now available:

Absolutely appalling that nothing in here references what survivors want: 100% RECOVERY!

Until we get survivors in charge that goal of survivors will never be addressed!

Take Up Stroke report from Benjamin Jaa Ming New covering the changes stroke medicine has undergone since the 2019 BASP workforce challenges is now available:

TUSF Report June 2024 – Benjamin Jaa Ming New (Stroke SpR and PhD student) Stroke medicine in the United Kingdom has undergone many changes since the 2019 BASP workforce challenges report. [1] In Scotland, it remains a leading cause of death and disability, and an ongoing focus for improvement by the Scottish government. The Stroke Improvement Plan 2023 sets out goals to enhance primary prevention, expand life-saving treatment, and a renewed emphasis on providing holistic rehabilitation services to individuals who suffered from stroke.(NOT 100% RECOVERY!) [2] At Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, we have recruited more Stroke specialist to the team since the 2019 report, reorganised our hyper-acute stroke services, and introduced a thrombectomy service hub which covers the North of Scotland in line with the improvement plan. I would like to use this opportunity to share the collective sentiments and challenges faced by the Ninewells Stroke team from this region. Ninewells Hospital is attached to the University of Dundee medical school, where our stroke clinicians have regular contributions to education and training, from medical students to higher speciality trainees. Instead of a few separate days of stroke pathology lectures, medical students now have access to a week of lectures, covering a range of topics from the basics and to an introduction in thrombectomy. Stroke medicine is also well recognised as unit with opportunities to engage with medical research and practice, with medical students returning for quality improvement projects in student selected components, as well as a top choice for foundation assistantships. Higher speciality trainees from geriatrics, neurology, acute medicine, and clinical pharmacology also rotate through stroke medicine from within their dual-training programme. This integrates well with the new training curriculum for Stroke medicine with only an additional 6-month fellowship for some trainees to gain an additional certificate of completion of training. While Stroke medicine has improved its accessibility to undergraduate and trainees, it does not alter the reality that it remains a demanding and complicated practice of medicine. Our familiarity with alteplase and improvements in neurovascular imaging using CT angiograms, perfusions, and MRI have not only extended thrombolysis time, but also made decisions around relative contraindications more challenging. Thrombectomy has not only transformed patient lives, but also introduced “teething pains” into busy NHS services across stroke medicine, radiology, and emergency services. Improved treatment and mortalities in stroke have saved lives but created more demands in both in-patient and out-patient rehabilitation services. While older and unexposed clinicians hold a fatalistic view of stroke, the younger clinicians are set in a struggle to keep up with patients/family expectations from advancements in stroke therapeutics. Our health board continues to engage with Scottish Stroke Improvement Programme (SSIP), where our performance is measured using the Scottish Stroke Care Audit. [3] Performances in hyper-acute services, rehabilitation services, and TIA clinic services are included in this audit. The recent SSIP also recognised that strategies are needed to maintain high-quality stroke care with all health boards demonstrating continuous training for all stroke staff, and particularly, up-to-date training in advanced stroke imaging for stroke physicians and radiologists. Stroke medicine is at a challenging juncture that continues to evolve further in the years to come. “Taking Up Stroke” is half the battle, and one that is at least optimistic locally, thanks to the efforts of our team of stroke clinicians and educators. The next aim of the Ninewells Stroke team will be to extend thrombectomy into a 24/7 hub service and maintain a high delivery of care for its patients. Acknowledgement: Many thanks to Dr Rachel Shedden, Dr Danisha Bhuckory, and Dr Sarah Ross for lending their opinion on the topic.