wrans/answers2025-05-21 conversation_179
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-21 conversation_179

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve stroke care in Lincolnshire. \p Karin Smyth: The Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) is participating in a national improvement initiative called Clinically-Led workforcE and Activity Redesign (CLEAR), which focuses on using quality improvement methods to enhance all aspects of stroke care. CLEAR is a nationally funded project supported by regional and national stroke teams, as well as the regional Medical Director. Additional backing comes from the United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust. The initiative is examining stroke staffing models and care pathways throughout the entire patient journey. Its goal is to improve stroke services in Lincolnshire and to develop a toolkit and clinical model that can be adopted across the country. The project is scheduled for completion in August 2025.

Lincolnshire is also actively addressing the key risk factors for stroke, with a strong focus on early detection and targeted intervention. The region is performing above both regional and national averages in identifying hypertension, the leading risk factor for stroke, and is recognised as an exemplar in this area. This success is driven by strong clinical engagement, the promotion of best practices, collaboration with Public Health England on the Know Your Numbers campaign, and more recently, participation in the Innovation for Healthcare Inequalities Programme, which aims to reduce health inequalities in detection and treatment. A similar proactive approach is being applied to cholesterol management. In the past year, two outreach nurses have been introduced dedicated to treating patients at the highest risk due to elevated lipid levels.

Recent Quality and Outcomes Framework data for 2023/24 highlights Lincolnshire’s strong performance in atrial fibrillation (AF) detection and management. With a prevalence rate of 2.9%, Lincolnshire ranks sixth out of 42 ICBs, well above the national average of 2.18%. This reflects significant efforts in identifying and diagnosing AF, which is an essential step in enabling timely treatment and effective management. In terms of treatment, 91.99% of clinically indicated patients in Lincolnshire received appropriate care, compared to the national average of 89.76%, placing the region fourth among all ICBs. These achievements have been made despite a significant prevalence, meaning a high number of patients need to be followed up with a review each year.

For patients who have suffered a stroke, there is the offer of a comprehensive range of rehabilitation services to support recovery and long-term care. The stroke unit at the United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust provides a community-based neuro-rehabilitation outreach team, delivering specialist, interdisciplinary assessments for adults with long-term neurological conditions or complex rehabilitation needs following major trauma. In addition, the NHS Lincolnshire ICB commissions a dedicated community stroke service, offering post-stroke support including occupational therapy, physiotherapy, and speech and language therapy. These services are continuously reviewed and developed to ensure they meet the evolving needs of patients.