§ Mr. JackTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish a definition of what constitutes a specialist stroke unit; which acute hospitals(a) have such a unit and (b) are without such a unit; and which hospitals have plans approved and fully funded to open such a unit before the end of 2004. [91822]
§ Jacqui Smith[holding answer 22 January 2003]: The term "specialist stroke unit" is used to describe hospital based acute care and rehabilitation services designed specifically for people who have had a stroke. A range of elements are associated with such units, in particular a 825W complex multidisciplinary process of assessment, early management and ongoing rehabilitation. We do not routinely collect information about acute hospitals with and without such units.
The Sentinel Audit, carried out by the clinical effectiveness and evaluation unit of the Royal College of Physicians and led by the intercollegiate working party for stroke does collect this information but it is anonymous and cannot be used to identify particular hospitals.
The priorities and planning framework for 2003–6 requires all hospitals who care for people who have had a stroke to have specialist stroke services, which include specialist hospital based services, by April 2004. From monitoring against the April 2002 milestones for the national service framework, we know that well over 80 per cent, of such hospitals plan to have a specialist stroke service in place by April 2004.
§ Mr. JackTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans his Department has to improve(a) diagnosis, (b) treatment and (c) post-discharge support for stroke victims suffering from depression; [93372]
(2) what plans are in place to enable health service staff to receive training enabling them to screen stroke victims for depression. [93373]
§ Jacqui SmithIn March 2001 the Department published the national service framework (NSF) for older people. This includes a standard on stroke. It sets out a comprehensive strategy to ensure fair, high quality integrated health and social care and reduce variations in services.
The priorities and planning framework for 2003–06 requires all hospitals who care for people who have had a stroke to have specialist stroke services, which include specialist hospital based services, by April 2004. From monitoring against the April 2002 milestones for the NSF, we know that well over 80 per cent. of such hospitals plan to have a specialist stroke service in place by April 2004.
By April this year every hospital which cares for older people with stroke will have established clinical audit systems to ensure delivery of the Royal College of Physician's clinical guidelines for stroke. These guidelines include the assessing and treatment of depression.