Stroke Treatment Limitations at Royal Preston Hospital
When Phil Woodford experienced a stroke in 2016, it occurred on a Sunday. He attributed the timing to missing out on a crucial treatment, stating that the fact it was the weekend rather than a weekday at Royal Preston Hospital (RPH) was the reason he did not receive a "life-altering treatment." At that time, RPH did not provide 24/7 thrombectomy services—a surgical procedure that removes blood clots or drains fluid from blocked blood vessels in the brain.
Ten years later, in February of this year, RPH began offering round-the-clock thrombectomy services. The NHS has indicated that it continues to "expand thrombectomy services for those eligible." Despite this progress, Woodford, now 55, lives with significant disabilities including reduced movement, persistent pain, and fatigue, which forced him into early retirement.
"I'll never know for sure but I am confident if I'd had a thrombectomy, I wouldn't have been forced to retire due to the extent of disability I had been left with,"
He expressed satisfaction that Preston now offers 24/7 thrombectomy services a decade after his stroke but remained puzzled that such treatments are still not widely available at all hours throughout the UK.
Regional Disparities and National Inequalities
The northwest of England is among the few regions currently providing round-the-clock thrombectomy services. However, the Stroke Association highlights ongoing "stark inequalities" in access across the UK, resulting in some stroke patients facing lifelong disability while others do not.
The charity emphasizes that receiving treatment within hours of stroke symptom onset can be lifesaving or significantly reduce the risk of permanent disability by minimizing brain damage caused by clots.
According to the Stroke Association's analysis, between October and December of last year, 1,222 patients missed out on thrombectomy treatment. Of the 24 specialist neuroscience centers in England, only 17 offer thrombectomy services regardless of day or time.
"Thousands of survivors could be living very different lives from the realities they now face if they had received a thrombectomy," said Prof Deb Lowe, the charity's medical director.
"They could potentially work, live independently, easily hold a conversation, and simply enjoy a sense of normality. Instead, they may not be able to even leave the house without help,"
Campaigning for Expanded Access
Woodford is actively campaigning for 24/7 thrombectomy access to be made available to all across the UK. Speaking to BBC Radio Lancashire, he acknowledged the positive development that Preston has had this service available since February but expressed frustration that it is not yet widely accessible.
"People can obviously be unwell at any time of the day or week, so it makes no sense to not offer such a vital service around the clock, too,"
Prof Deb Lowe identified several factors contributing to limited access, including "gaps in the stroke workforce," the need for "targeted funding," prioritization challenges, and delays related to ambulance response times or hospital handovers.
"We can – and must – do better,"
An NHS England spokesperson stated that the NHS continues to expand thrombectomy services for eligible patients, with more stroke patients receiving this treatment each year. They noted that thrombectomy is not appropriate for all cases and that newer clot-busting treatments are also improving patient care and reducing the need for invasive procedures.
Currently, over 80% of the population has access to 24/7 thrombectomy centers, with additional sites scheduled to open in the coming months. The NHS is investing an extra £14 million to further expand services and train additional staff to perform mechanical thrombectomy.
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