The 8% increase in stroke admissions to hospital in a single year must “sound the alarm” to health authorities, the Irish Heart Foundation has warned.
In a statement released today as part of the Irish National Audit of Stroke National Report 2023, Chris Macey, Director of Advocacy and Patient Support at the Irish Heart Foundation, described the surge in hospital admissions as a clear indication that immediate action is required.
“Most of all…the 8% increase in stroke admissions to hospital in a single year must sound the alarm to the health authorities that there can be no further delays in providing the resources required to fully implement the National Stroke Strategy,” Macey said.
He noted that, despite improvements in some key performance indicators such as faster medical review times and higher thrombectomy rates, there were significant gaps compared to UK standards, particularly concerning Early Supported Discharge and total discharge rates.
“It should be noted…comparison with UK services also highlighted areas requiring major additional priority, such as an Early Supported Discharge rate of 9% here compared to 52% in the UK and a total discharge rate of 57% against a corresponding UK rate of 76%,” he stated.
Macey also pointed out that only 6% of stroke patients in Ireland received a psychological assessment, despite research indicating high levels of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation among stroke survivors.
The report highlighted ongoing issues with patient access to stroke unit treatment, noting that although stroke unit admissions had reached 70%, this remained unchanged from previous audits and significantly below the 90% target.
“In 2023 close to 2,000 patients were denied the benefit of stroke unit treatment,” he explained. “The resulting impact on outcomes – based on the HSE’s own estimation that stroke units reduce death institutional care requirement by around 20% – is substantial.”
Budget 2025 included allocations aimed at expanding stroke unit staffing and Early Supported Discharge services, but Macey urged health authorities to accelerate the pace of implementing these measures.
“This must be accelerated in order to meet the commitments made in the National Stroke Strategy in the two budgets that remain before the plan expires,” Macey said.
Since 2008, when Ireland had just 12 stroke unit beds and a thrombolysis rate of 1%, audit data has driven significant transformations in stroke care, though demographic pressures now present increased challenges. Stroke remains one of Ireland’s leading causes of death and disability, affecting thousands each year.