Shortage of NHS stroke specialists leaving thousands dead or disabled, say doctors

Exclusive: Chronic lack of consultants across UK health service means patients do not get drugs or surgery in timeThousands of people who have had a stroke are ending up severely disabled or dying because the NHS has too few specialists to treat them quickly enough, senior doctors are warning.A chronic shortage of stroke consultants across the NHS means that patients are suffering horrendous consequences because of delays in getting clot-busting drugs and surgery, they said.70% of stroke units are short of at least one consultant in stroke care, and many are two down.53 of 84 hospitals that responded had vacancies for a total of 96 consultants.The NHS relies heavily on locum doctors to fill holes in the workforce caused by the difficulty in recruiting new consultants.10% of the NHS’s 423 substantive (permanent) consultants are due to retire in the next five years, exacerbating the existing shortage. Continue reading...