COMMENT CSJ THE CLINICAL SERVICES JOURNAL Editor
Chris Shaw
chrisshaw@stepcomms.com
Technical Editor Kate Woodhead
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Publishing Director Trevor Moon
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THE CLINICAL SERVICES JOURNAL is published in January, February, March, April, May, June, August, September, October and November by Step Communications Ltd, Step House, North Farm Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3DR, UK.
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Addressing the staffing levels crisis
A report published by the British Association of Stroke Physicians (BASP) provides new analysis showing the number of stroke consultants required to meet the needs of patients in the UK, and address the worrying shortfall of existing specialists. To ensure the best available treatment for those affected by one of the largest causes of death in the UK, BASP has shown that an additional 226 full time stroke consultants are required – an increase of a third on the 676 stroke specialists currently working in the NHS.
The growing deficit risks leaving UK
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stroke services unable to keep pace with advances in stroke care. Immediate access to procedures such as intravenous thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy, which dissolve clots and restore blood flow to the brain, can significantly decrease the risk of long-term disability and save millions of pounds in long term health and social care costs. However, without the right provision of specialists, patients may not have swift access to the best available treatments. Strokes are the fourth biggest killers in the in the UK, and the largest cause of complex disability. In addition, the cost of strokes to society is around £26 billion a year - including lost productivity, disability and informal care. To help ensure the necessary levels of stroke staff, BASP is calling for comprehensive stroke medicine training within the teaching curriculum of parent specialities – including acute medicine, geriatric medicine, neurology and rehabilitation medicine. The association also highlights the need for increased promotion of stroke medicine at undergraduate level - including increased exposure of medical students to acute stroke patients, to encourage more people into the profession. Finally, BASP warns of the need for an increase in the proportion of time that can be committed to stroke medicine, as part of stroke consultants’ job plans. According to Professor Tom Robinson, president of the British Association of Stroke Physicians, the sooner a person receives treatment, the less damage is likely to
AUGUST 2019
happen. He said: “With more than 100,000 strokes in the UK each year, we must urgently address the deficit in stroke staff to ensure that everyone has access to specialist care as quickly as possible.” BASP’s findings show that a hospital admitting 600 stroke patients per year will require 40 Direct Clinical Care programmed activities, and a hospital admitting 1200 stroke patients will require 67. Each programmed activity worked is usually a period of up to four hours. From this, the
With more than 100,000 strokes in the UK each year, we must urgently address the deficit in stroke staff to ensure that everyone has access to specialist care as quickly as possible.
report shows that 226 full time stroke consultants are required. Clearly, understanding the stroke consultant workforce requirements is pivotal if stroke care is to be delivered in a sustainable way. Hopefully, this report will enable hospitals and commissioners to appreciate the true consultant workforce requirements of a comprehensive stroke service. Tellingly, it may also reassure those considering a career in stroke medicine that there is now an updated and realistic template to provide the basis for a varied and manageable job plan.
Chris ShawlEditor
chrisshaw@stepcomms.com
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