§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set standards for the care of stroke patients across health and social care settings; and when he intends to publish the National Service Framework for Older People. [155911]
§ Mr. HuttonThe Department published the National Service Framework for Older People (NSF) on 27 March 2001. The NSF covers conditions prevalent among older people, including stroke, and it applies to all stroke patients.
The NSF will drive up the quality, and reduce variations in services for older people. The stroke standard sets out the standards of stroke prevention and care which will be put in place and a service model for integrated specialist stroke services which will be in place in all general hospitals which care for people with stroke by April 2004.