The Health Service Forum SE has been campaigning since 2005 to highlight the inadequacies of the NHS in dealing with the immediate aftermath of a stroke or transient ischaemic attack(TIA) (Scottish hospitals failing stroke patients', October 1).

In 2005 the National Audit Office published a report entitled "Reducing brain damage: Faster access to better stroke care". Guidelines on the treatment of stroke patients produced by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) were last published in 1997 and have been under review since 1999! In England, the National Institute for Health & Clinical Excellence (Nice), has had a consultation guideline on strikes ongoing since January 2008.

There is no shortage of guidance as to what to do but it would appear that there is not the will on the part of the health boards to implement what has been clearly recognised by the medical profession for years.
Louise Laing, Secretary, Health Service Forum SE, Glasgow.

 4 October 2008