Health and Social Care Committee
Stroke risk reduction - follow-up inquiry
Evidence from Powys Teaching Health Board – SFU 4
Powys Teaching Health Board
Evidence to Health and Social Care Committee on Stroke Risk Reduction
The Committee has requested evidence of progress in relation to the recommendations made in the 2011 Report, and where progress is still required. Powys has responses to recommendations 2 and 3 below:
Recommendation 2. We recommend that the Welsh Government includes within the National Stroke Delivery Plan clear references to the prevention of secondary strokes and the treatment and diagnosis of TIAs as they relate to stroke risk reduction work.
There are clear requirements in the National Stroke Delivery Plan for health boards to address both primary and secondary prevention issues in their local action plans. Powys has several actions relating to these areas and has reported against them in their Annual Report.
Recommendation 3. We recommend that by April 2012 and in line with its published expectation, the Welsh Government ensures patients have access to seven day TIA clinics and that clinical guidelines in relation to carotid endarterectomies are adhered to across Wales.
It is difficult to ascertain from Powys’ perspective if this has been achieved. We as a health board are unable to access the data that is collected by the TIA services in Wales. The most recent data for the Carotid Endarterectomy Audit showed some improvement, but there appear to be significant gaps in the data.