New figures show ongoing failure to deliver life-changing stroke treatment, with Scotland lagging far behind rest of the UK

In response to today’s publication of the Scottish Stroke Improvement Programme annual report 2025, John Watson, Associate Director for the Stroke Association in Scotland, said:

“Stroke is Scotland's third biggest killer, and the leading cause of complex adult disability. But these new figures¹ show the ongoing failure of health boards to make stroke the priority it needs to be.

“The failure is most striking in thrombectomy, a life-saving, life-changing treatment that should be a normal part of any modern healthcare system. The benefits to patients are obvious, but thrombectomy also saves the health and care system £47,000 per patient over five years², potentially providing part of the solution to the current NHS and social care crisis.

“A Scotland-wide, round-the-clock thrombectomy service was promised years ago, yet less than a fifth of eligible patients get the intervention¹, which could transform their lives. The thrombectomy rate elsewhere in the UK³ is more than double that in Scotland.

“We work closely with stroke teams and recognise the tremendous efforts made by staff on the ground. But they can’t sort this on their own. It is political decisions, from the Scottish Government and health board leaders, that determine the resources, equipment and staff available to them.

“Small sums of money, such as investing in new operating suites to perform thrombectomies, would remove an existing bottleneck, save lives and quickly pay for themselves."

Graham’s story

Graham McGowan, 53, from Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, suffered left-side paralysis when he was unable to have a thrombectomy for a stroke he had in 2022 due to limited availability of the procedure.

The former consultant, trail runner and skier was rushed to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (ARI) on the evening of 20 May 2022. A brain scan revealed a blood clot, which doctors advised should be treated with a thrombectomy.

However, Graham was unable to have the procedure because he arrived at ARI at around 9pm. Otherwise, he would have been airlifted to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, one of Scotland’s three specialist thrombectomy hubs, where the procedure is carried out 9am-7pm, Monday to Friday. [The other two - Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh - perform the procedure 8am-8pm, Mon-Fri (Glasgow referrals only) / 8am-5pm, Mon-Fri (all other referrers), and 8am-9pm seven days a week (RIE referrals only) / 8am-9pm, Mon-Fri (all other referrers), respectively.]

Instead, Graham had thrombolysis, a drug which is used to try to disperse clots and help restore the blood supply to the brain, followed by intensive physiotherapy.

Three years later, Graham lives with life-limiting cognitive and physical disability and is keen to raise awareness of the importance of 24/7 access to a national thrombectomy service, to prevent future stroke patients in Scotland missing out on the procedure and all the positive outcomes it can bring.

References

1. Scottish stroke improvement programme annual report 2025 - Scottish stroke improvement programme - Publications - Public Health Scotland
2. https://www.iomcworld.org/proceedings/budget-implications-for-the-uk-nhs-of-implementing-mechanical-thrombectomy-for-the-treatment-of-acute-ischemic-stroke-pa-49204.html
3. Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme (SSNAP) 2023/24 National Clinical Audit Annual Results Portfolio https://www.strokeaudit.org/Documents/National/Clinical/Apr2023Mar2024/Apr2023Mar2024-AnnualReport.aspx