Strokes: progressive stroke pathway

1. Foreword

The 2019-20 Programme for Government set out the Scottish Government's commitments on stroke care, including the ambition to scope and define a progressive model of stroke care.

As Chair of the National Advisory Committee for Stroke (NACS), I am pleased to have been able to lead this work. However, this document is the result of a huge amount of work by a large number of people who have committed their time during the COVID pandemic to describe The Progressive Stroke Pathway.

NACS is the national group which coordinates implementation of the Stroke Improvement Plan and aims to promote Scotland-wide collaboration, peer support and dissemination of best practice in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and long-term management of stroke.

The Progressive Stroke Pathway draws on the expertise of a wide range of clinicians, as well as those with lived experience of stroke and the current treatment and rehabilitation pathway, to describe what we think progressive stroke care in Scotland should comprise. The pathway sets out an ambitious vision of a stroke service that fully meets the holistic needs of patients, as well as envisioning how future uses of novel technology and an evolving workforce can be incorporated into a progressive stroke service.

At every stage of the Progressive Stroke Pathway, we have outlined recommendations, based on best practice, clinical views and the experiences of stroke survivors.

Going forward, NACS will work with the Scottish Government, and continue to liaise with third sector organisations and those with lived experience, to support the delivery of the commitments in stroke care outlined in the Programme for Government.

Professor Martin Dennis

Chair, National Advisory Committee for Stroke (NACS)