Media Release :29 November 2007
Too little change in four years
Too little has changed since stroke treatment best practice guidelines were adopted four years ago by the Ministry of
Health, according to out going Stroke Foundation President, Dr Jonathan Baskett.
Speaking at this week’s national AGM in Wellington, Dr Baskett said there was no good reason for the slow adoption of
the guidelines and many hundreds of lives were needlessly put at risk, and taxpayer funds could be used much more
fruitfully.
“Radical improvements in stroke care have been within our reach nationally thanks to our recommendations accepted by
the Ministry of Health in 2003. So why is it that only one DHB of the 21 nationwide has internationally acceptable
stroke services four years later?
“I believe hundreds of New Zealanders have needlessly died and thousands have a life after stroke unacceptably
compromised by inadequate stroke services nationally.”
This tragic situation will continue, he said, unless stroke gets the priority and investment it needs: “Canterbury has
shown that when a DHB makes the effort to effect the Stroke Guidelines it works for everyone: stroke patients have
better outcomes, hospitals achieve greater efficiencies and taxes are used more fruitfully. So why are we waiting?”./.
ends