Increase in admissions for stroke to hospitals- NOCA report

There was an 8 per cent increase in stroke admissions between 2022 and 2023 to Irish hospitals, with 6,461 patients admitted with a stroke diagnosis.

This is according to the new Irish National Audit of Stroke National Report 2023, published by the National Office of Clinical Audit (NOCA).

The report assesses the performance of 23 hospitals in delivering stroke treatment, highlighting improvements in key areas while also identifying critical areas that require further attention.

The NOCA report found that timeliness of care “improved”, with the median time from hospital arrival to medical review decreasing from 14 minutes in 2022 to 9 minutes in 2023. Thrombectomy rates increased to 11.2 per cent, nearly three times the rate reported in the UK.

Stroke unit admissions remain static at 70 per cent, below the 90 per cent target, meaning nearly 2,000 patients did not receive dedicated stroke unit care.

Early supported discharge rates remain “low” at 9 per cent, significantly below the UK’s rate of 52 per cent.

Psychological assessment “is underprovided”, with only 6 per cent of stroke patients receiving an assessment despite high rates of post-stroke depression and anxiety.

The report recommends a review of the organisation of stroke services in acute hospitals to identify gaps in service provision which may impact on the ability of a hospital to provide evidence-based care.

“The data show that Ireland continues to make progress in acute stroke care, particularly in areas such as thrombectomy and faster hospital assessment,” said Professor Joe Harbison, Clinical Lead for the Irish National Audit of Stroke.

“However, gaps remain in key areas, particularly in access to stroke units and post-hospital rehabilitation. We need enhanced public awareness campaigns to encourage rapid recognition of stroke symptoms and emergency response. It is critical that there is full implementation of the National Stroke Strategy to ensure access to high-quality stroke care”.

 The report is available at: www.noca.ie/publications