Question reference: S6W-13549
- Date lodged: 4 January 2023
-
Current status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 18 January 2023
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its plans are to ensure that there is a 24/7 national thrombectomy service to support patients across the whole of Scotland, and when it aims to deliver this by.
Answer
The Scottish Government remains committed to introducing a high quality and clinically safe thrombectomy service in Scotland. Work is ongoing to establish the most effective means of further expanding the national thrombectomy service, and the appropriate timescales to achieve this. This includes seeking input from National Services Division, to ensure that regional plans are cohesive and maximise access to thrombectomy procedures nationwide.
The budget for thrombectomy and development of a refreshed stroke improvement plan has been increased from £8.6 million for 2022-23 to £12.5 million in 2023-24. Prior to the 2023/24 budget announcement, the delivery of a national thrombectomy service had already received over £16 million of investment.
Our NHS Recovery Plan also invests £1 billion of targeted funding over five years to increase NHS capacity, deliver reform, and ensure everyone has the treatment they need at the right time, in the right place, and as quickly as possible, all in aid of our recovery from the global pandemic, the biggest shock our NHS has faced in its 74 year existence.