Tue, 2 Dec 2014There are not enough nurses to care for people taken to hospital after suffering a stroke at the weekend, according to an audit conducted by the Royal College of Physicians.

The audit showed that there should be three qualified nurses on duty at all times during the day per 10 beds with stroke patients. Currently only 50 out of 183 hospitals have this number on duty at 10am on weekends. Research has found that death rates are higher where there are fewer nurses.

The audit also found that one in four hospitals has an unfilled consultant stroke physician post and there are not enough trainee doctors to take these roles. 

However, the successful reorganisation of the provision for acute strokes and a large increase in seven day working means that almost all hospitals can provide around the clock access to drugs used to reduce clots.

Three out of four hospitals also have access to stroke specific discharge services, which enabled to patients to receive the same level of care at home as they would in hospital.

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