Commenting on Managing the flow?, the report published today from the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death (NCEPOD), the Royal College of Physicians' Dr Gareth Llewelyn, chair of the Joint Clinical Neuroscience Committee, says there is scope for improvement in recognition and diagnosis of aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage and the implementation of evidence-based best practice.
It is encouraging to see that nearly 60% of patients receive a quality of care that is considered good, according to the results of the latest National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death (NCEPOD). However, we can clearly do better. There are lessons for all of us, both specialists and generalists.
There is scope for improvement around the recognition and diagnosis of aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH) and the reliable implementation of evidence-based best practice. We very much welcome the recommendation for the development and adoption of standard clinical protocols to improve the quality of acute and rehabilitative care that patients receive. We are also pleased to see that ensuring treatment to secure ruptured aneurysms within 48 hours calls for healthcare professionals to meet the nationally agreed standard ‘consistently and comprehensively’, as stated in the in the National Clinical Guideline for Stroke.
Improving the management of aSAH patients involves creating a cohesive partnership between the district general hospital and its regional neurosciences centre, and we as neurologists, with links to both, have a key role to play in ensuring implementation of the recommendations of this report.
The report can be found at www.ncepod.org.uk
For further information please contact Clinical Standards communications officer, Hannah Bristow, on 020 3075 1447, or email hannah.bristow@rcplondon.ac.uk