Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Anna Bawden Health and social affairs correspondent

NHS repeatedly failing in care of stroke patients, watchdog says

NHS hospital ward
Just under half of stroke patients are directly admitted to a specialist stroke unit within four hours of symptoms starting. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA

The NHS has repeatedly failed in its diagnosis and care of stroke patients, England’s health ombudsman has said.

According to the World Stroke Association, more than 12 million people worldwide will have their first stroke this year and 6.5 million will die as a result. Strokes are one of the UK’s biggest killers, causing about 34,000 deaths a year, and the single biggest cause of severe disability.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.