UK government to spend {pound}105m to improve stroke services

doi:10.1136/bmj.39423.703993.DB

BMJ 2007;335:1231 (15 December), doi:10.1136/bmj.39423.703993.DB

News

UK government to spend £105m to improve stroke services

Robert Short

¹ London

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

The health secretary, Alan Johnson, last week launched a newstrategy for the treatment of stroke in the United Kingdom,aimed at preventing 1600 strokes a year and cutting 6800 deathsand disabilities. Stroke is the third biggest killer in theUK and the largest cause of severe disability.

Mr Johnson said, "What we are publishing today is a bold visionfor the stroke services—covering prevention through tolifelong support."

This strategy has been developed in partnership with stakeholders,including representatives from stroke charities; stroke professionalsin the NHS and social care professionals; and people affectedby stroke and their carers. The national director for strokeand heart disease, Roger Boyle, supported by these stroke experts,led this work.

The strategy comes with £105m ( ${euro}$ 146; $215m) for nationalimplementation. Most of this—£77m—will gointo the development of acute and community demonstration sitesto pioneer best practice.