New quarterly figures from the Stroke Improvement National Audit Programme (SINAP), the continuous national stroke audit which looks in detail at the first 72 hours of care, show the quality of stroke care in hospitals in England.
103 out of 155 eligible hospitals participated in the fifth quarterly report and the total number of stroke records completed in the audit since it began now stands at more than 67,000. Hospitals taking part in SINAP have supplied information on aspects of patient care, including:
- how many patients had a brain scan within one hour (nationally, 37% compared to 35% in the previous quarter)
- how many patients had a brain scan within 24 hours (nationally, 91% compared to 91% in the previous quarter)
- how many patients saw a stroke consultant within 24 hours (nationally, 85% compared to 83% in the previous quarter)
- whether or not the patient is admitted directly to a stroke unit, and whether or not they reached the unit within four hours (nationally, 65% compared to 59% in the previous quarter)
- whether or not the patient received thrombolysis (clot busting drug) when they were potentially eligible for it (nationally, 67% compared to 61% in the previous quarter)
- whether or not the prognosis/diagnosis was discussed with a relative/carer within 72 hours where applicable (nationally, 90% compared to 90% in the previous quarter)
- whether or not the patient had a continence plan drawn up within 72 hours where applicable (nationally, 78% compared to 74% in the previous quarter)
- whether the patient was seen by nurse and one therapist within 24 hours and all relevant therapists within 72 hours (nationally, 61% compared to 58% in the previous quarter)
- and other standards, which are included in the full results spreadsheet.
The audit, commissioned by the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership (HQIP), is carried out on behalf of the Intercollegiate Stroke Working Party by the Royal College of Physicians’ Clinical Standards Department. It is a continuous audit with hospitals submitting data on patients as they are admitted and treated.
Access individual hospital results from the SINAP pages of the RCP website
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For further information, please contact Lisa Cunningham, Public Affairs Manager, on +44 (0)20 3075 1468 / 07990 745610, or email Lisa.cunningham@rcplondon.ac.uk
The Royal College of Physicians (RCP)
The RCP plays a leading role in the delivery of high quality patient care by setting standards of medical practice and promoting clinical excellence. We provide physicians in the United Kingdom and overseas with education, training and support throughout their careers. As an independent body representing over 27,000 fellows and members worldwide, we advise and work with government, the public, patients and other professions to improve health and healthcare.
Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership (HQIP)
HQIP is led by a consortium of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, the Royal College of Nursing and National Voices. Its aim is to promote quality improvement, and in particular to increase the impact of clinical audit in England and Wales. HQIP hosts the contract to manage and develop the National Clinical Audit and Patient Outcomes Programme (NCAPOP). The programme comprises approximately 30 clinical audits that cover care provided to people with a wide range of medical, surgical and mental health conditions.