Rachael Hamilton MSP is backing a campaign calling on the Scottish Government to reinstate thrombectomy services.
Ms Hamilton met with representatives of Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland in Holyrood to discuss their ‘Bring Back Thrombectomy’ campaign.
The limited thrombectomy service was shelved in 2018, meaning that 600 stroke patients will miss out on this procedure.
Thrombectomy is a highly specialised procedure suitable for one in ten people after an acute ischaemic stroke. Without this procedure, people suffering the most severe types of stroke are like to be more disabled when they are discharged from hospital and become less able to care for themselves.
The campaign calls on the Scottish Government to commit to funding a national thrombectomy service through specialist centres and to making sure thrombectomy services are up and running in 2019.
25 stroke consultants have now written to the Scottish Health Secretary, Jeane Freeman, in support of the campaign to Bring Back Thrombectomy in Scotland, and over 3,000 people have signed CHSS’s petition.
Ms Hamilton is now calling on the SNP Government to follow the example of NHS England in expanding services.
Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire MSP, Rachael Hamilton said:
“Thrombectomy services are vital for those who have suffered a stroke, and it is important that we see these reinstated.
“It is concerning that these services were withdrawn in the first place, as the procedure can prevent serious damage occurring to the stroke sufferer in the aftermath of a stroke.
“I want to see the SNP Government listen to the concerns of stroke consultants and get to work ensuring we have thrombectomy services up and running in Scotland once again”.
