Shortage of NHS stroke specialists resulting in thousands dead or disabled, say doctors

A lack of specialists means that people are being left with avoidable life-changing conditions, the doctors said. Photograph: Jeff Moore/PA

Thousands of people who have had a stroke are ending up severely disabled or dying because the NHS has too few specialists to treat them quickly enough, senior doctors are warning.

A chronic shortage of stroke consultants across the NHS means that patients are suffering horrendous consequences because of delays in getting clot-busting drugs and surgery, they said.