STROKE patients in Scotland are waiting nearly 10 minutes longer for treatment than they were in 2018, Scottish Labour said yesterday.

The time it takes from calling an ambulance to receiving the treatment to remove the blood clot has risen to more than two hours over the period, the party’s analysis of the latest Scottish stroke improvement figures says.

And the time between the ambulance arriving to pick up the patient and departure to the hospital has also increased, the party said.

The removal of blood clots is known as thrombolysis; doing so quickly gives stroke patients a higher chance of recovery. Delays can mean the difference between years of living independently and severe disability or death. 

Scottish Labour’s health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said: “These figures are a stark reminder that under the SNP, stroke patients face a postcode lottery.

“Modern technology has the potential to transform the lives of stroke survivors, yet after nearly two decades in power, the SNP can’t keep up with services elsewhere.

“The SNP is letting the clock run down on stroke patients. Scottish Labour will invest in our NHS and ensure patients get the treatment they need.”

Stroke charities have urged the SNP government to provide a round-the-clock service for thrombectomies, a procedure for quickly removing blood clots offered in England but not available anywhere in Scotland after 9pm. 

Overall, the proportion of stroke patients receiving clot-busting thrombolysis within 30 minutes fell in half of the 14 health boards, the Scottish Labour research showed.

Public Health Minister Jenni Minto said: “Between 2022 and 2024 the number of patients able to access thrombectomy treatment from NHS Scotland almost doubled. More patients are receiving the standards of care in the stroke care bundle.

“There is more to do and we will continue to increase access to these procedures. We are grateful to teams across Scotland for their excellent work in delivering and expanding services. We will continue to work with health boards to ensure they drive up standards of care they provide.

“We want to make sure people who have had a stroke receive the best possible care as quickly as possible to enable them to live longer, healthier and more independent lives.”