An update has been issued to MPs over NHS stroke treatment. Stroke patients need urgent treatment to avoid long-term or permanent damage. One of the most commonly used procedures is a thrombectomy, a surgical intervention that physically removes large blood clots and restores blood flow to the brain.
Thrombectomies generally need to be carried out within hours of stroke symptoms first emerging, yet only a small number of centres across England offer this procedure and even fewer run around the clock. Some facilities are confined to weekday operations or limited opening hours.
Now the Department for Health and Social Care has confirmed that NHS England is working toward providing 24/7 thrombectomy access throughout England by April 2026. MP Jim Shannon raised concerns with the DHSC regarding the steps being taken to expand this vital service.
« To achieve this NHS England is working with the General Medical Council in approving a credential to support neuroradiologists to conduct thrombectomy and increase the number of thrombectomies that can be delivered.
« In addition, NHS England’s National Medical Director and National Clinical Director for Stroke has supported comprehensive stroke centers in England to improve quality and reduce variation in thrombectomy delivery. »
A stroke occurs when the blood flow to the brain is disrupted. It can affect abilities including speech and movement, and without prompt medical intervention it may result in serious disability or death.
According to the Stroke Association, rapid access to a thrombectomy can deliver a « significant difference » in stroke recovery outcomes. The treatment works to limit brain injury by quickly re-establishing blood flow to the brain, thus lowering the risk of serious disability.
Around one in 10 stroke patients can benefit from thrombectomies, although the treatment isn’t suitable for all cases. Doctors must evaluate various factors such as where the blood clot is located, what type of stroke has occurred and how much time has passed since symptoms first appeared.
The Stroke Association emphasised that limited thrombectomy provision throughout England is due to inadequate numbers of qualified specialists and the specialised equipment necessary for the treatment.
In a thrombectomy procedure, a wire is carefully inserted into a blood vessel in the groin and navigated upwards towards the brain to remove the blood clot. The treatment delivers optimal results when undertaken within a few hours of stroke symptoms emerging, although it can be performed up to 24 hours later if clinicians believe it may be advantageous.
Thrombectomies are especially utilised for clots that are too large to be broken down by clot-dissolving medication, which usually forms the first line of treatment for strokes caused by blood clots. Strokes caused by blood clots are referred to as ischaemic strokes, although this doesn’t account for every stroke.
Haemorrhagic strokes occur due to bleeding within or surrounding the brain, and thrombectomies are not appropriate for managing this specific form of stroke.
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