Stroke survivors and campaigners have called on the health minister to make thrombectomies, a life-saving stroke treatment, available 24/7 in Northern Ireland.
But the health department has warned that budgetary constraints may impact plans to expand access.
A petition by Stroke Association NI is calling for wider access to the treatment which is only available between 6am and 8pm by the end of the year.
The procedure during which “clots are plucked from the brain” can prevent severe disability or death and is most effective within six hours.
Limited access means that patients admitted out of hours have to wait until the following morning for treatment, which the charity warns could have “devastating consequences”.
Today, stroke survivors and campaigners handed over our petition calling on the Health Minister @mikenesbittni to make thrombectomy available 24/7 for everyone in Northern Ireland who needs it. Thrombectomy saves brains 🧠 saves money 💷 and saves lives 💜 #SavingBrains pic.twitter.com/uxNNwMxo03
— StrokeAssociation NI (@strokeassocni) September 16, 2024
Alasdair O’Hara, Northern Ireland director at the Stroke Association, said it was an “extremely cost-effective procedure that leads to huge cost savings” by reducing long term disability and associated costs to the healthcare system.
He added: “More than 3,500 people have signed this petition because they know thrombectomy saves brains, saves money and saves lives.
“Sunday marked the 2,000 day anniversary of the initial commitment to expand thrombectomy in reshaping stroke care. It is now time to make stroke a priority and deliver this commitment.”
MLA Paula Bradshaw who serves as chair of the All-Party Group on Stroke, added that the department had previously committed to expand the treatment by the end of 2024, but that this was now “unlikely to happen”.
“This is unacceptable and will lead to more serious disabilities and, unfortunately, death in some cases,” said Ms Bradshaw.
“Now is the time to make thrombectomy treatment for stroke patients a priority. Failing to do so will have devastating consequences for so many lives.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Health said that “capacity and funding constraints have impacted the pace of delivery” of the stroke action plan but that a costed plan for expanded access to the treatment had been produced.
They added: “It is estimated that just over £5 million recurrent funding is required to support the priorities in respect of thrombolysis and thrombectomy.
“In the context of the extremely disappointing budget outcome, and the consequent significant budgetary pressures in 2024-25, some extremely difficult decisions will be required to manage within the budget allocated.
“In this context, there will be an initial focus on progressing the actions in the stroke action plan within current resources.”
But the department maintained that progress on the action plan had been achieved, including the introduction of AI into seven hospitals to help with scan interpretation.
