MORE than 3,000 fewer people died from the effects of stroke in Wales during 2010-12 than in 2002-04, due to improvements in services, according to a report published today.

Deaths from stroke fell from 60 per 100,000 population during the earlier three-year period, to 38 per 100,000 in the latter, a fall of more than 1,000 deaths per year on average.

Figures are contained in the second all-Wales annual report for stroke, which charts progress made against the Welsh Government’s Stroke Delivery Plan and identifies areas for future improvement.

It also reveals that:

l Overall, between 2007-08 and 2013-14, there has been an increase in stroke survivors;

l Emergency admissions for stroke have fallen by more than 1,000 (22 per cent) since 2010-11;

l Survival rates within 30 days of hospital admission for people aged 74 and under who have had a stroke were 91.3 per cent during 2013-14, an improvement of 1.8 per cent on the previous year;

l The percentage of patients receiving thrombolysis (clot-busting drugs) within an hour of arriving at hospital has risen from 17 per cent in 2012-13 to 26 per cent last year.

After cancer, heart disease and respiratory disease, stroke is a major cause of death in Wales.

Around 6,000 people will have a stroke every year in Wales, of whom around a third will die.

More than 65,000 people in Wales are living with the effects of stroke.

The report describes improvements in stroke care across health boards in Wales, and highlights examples of developments in service.

A seven-day, urgent, high risk transient ischaemic attack (TIA, a stroke precursor) assessment service, provided by Aneurin Bevan University Health Board at the Royal Gwent and Nevill Hall Hospitals, in Newport and Abergavenny respectively, is highlighted, along with plans to extend it from five to seven days a week.

Also highlighted is an ongoing review in Gwent of the thrombolysis pathway, to try to significantly reduce the door-to-needle time for the administration of clot-busting drugs from 90 minutes to 45 minutes or better.

Variable performance in elements of stroke care — including thrombolysis and access to a dedicated stroke ward within 24 hours of admission to hospital — is identified as an area for improvement in the report.

Deputy health minister Vaughan Gething said progress on stroke care “is a tribute to the dedicated staff who work tirelessly to support patients and carers through difficult times”.

“There are, however, a number of areas where progress has been more challenging and requires further work to give sustainable progress,” he said.

Dr Andrew Goodall, chief executive of NHS Wales, said the aim is to ensure Welsh people of all ages, wherever they live and whatever their circumstances, have access to excellent NHS stroke care.

“We expect to see further improvements over the next year. We also hope to see a greater emphasis on the delivery of stroke services, which are clinically led and put the patient at the centre of care,” he said.