Written question asked by Ian Gibson (Labour) on Tuesday, 10 March 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 12 March 2009. It was answered by Ann Keen (Labour) on Monday, 23 March 2009 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Strokes: Health Services

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent steps have been taken under the National Stroke Strategy to reduce vascular risk in stroke or trans ischaemic attack patients.

Answer: Under the quality and outcomes framework (QOF) primary care receives points for having a register of patients who have had a stroke or a trans ischaemic attack (TIA). The QOF also covers a number of indicators which relate to good clinical management of stroke patients, covering referral for further investigation, blood pressure and cholesterol management and the prescribing of anti-platelet or anti-coagulant medicine and flu vaccination. These measures assist primary care practitioners to reduce the risk of patients having a recurrent stroke or TIA.The stroke strategy outlines the need to ensure systems are in place locally for key prevention measures e.g. management of hypertension and smoking cessation to those who have had a stroke or TIA.

Secondary information