Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to ensure that all stroke victims are able to receive thrombectomies where appropriate.

NHS England’s Sustainable Improvement Team is taking action to promote the use of Guidance on Risk Assessment and Stroke Prevention for Atrial Fibrillation (GRASP-AF) within general practitioner practices in England. This is a software audit tool developed by and trialled in the National Health Service. It greatly simplifies the process of identifying patients with Atrial Fibrillation who are not receiving the right management to help reduce their risk of stroke. As of 31 October 2016:

- 2,220 of 7,619 practices had uploaded data from the latest version of GRASP-AF;

- 152 of 209 (73%) clinical commissioning groups have at least one practice uploading data from the latest version of GRASP-AF; and

- 18 CCGs (9%) have 100% of practices uploading data.

On 29 September 2016, NHS RightCare introduced an optimal value pathway on cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention. NHS RightCare is a programme committed to reducing unwarranted variation to improve people’s health and outcomes and reduce inequalities in health access, experience and outcomes.

The CVD prevention pathway is the first in a series of optimal value pathways on a number of conditions. These evidence based pathways are being developed in close collaboration with NHS England’s National Clinical Directors, Public Health England, the Royal Colleges, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and other non-statutory stakeholders, including patient groups.

NHS England’s National Clinical Director for stroke is leading work to develop a full proposal which will consider the evidence and logistical issues involved in delivering mechanical thrombectomy to stroke patients across the country. This includes working with the relevant specialist societies, Royal Colleges and Health Education England to consider the workforce implications. Once the proposal has been developed, NHS England will decide whether the procedure should be made widely available.