Stroke treatment concerns raised at Holyrood

SERIOUS concern has been voiced regarding the inequality of thrombectomy services in Galloway and West Dumfries.

MSP Finlay Carson has highlighted that people are being denied life-changing treatment.

He warned that outcomes for his constituents suffering a stroke was being determined by geography and the clock rather than clinical need.

Raising the issue at Holyrood, Mr Carson said: “Each year, more than 11,000 people have a stroke, yet only two per cent of them receive a thrombectomy – the very treatment that could prevent lifelong disability.

“Right now, there is a clear and unacceptable inequality across the service, and my constituents in Galloway and West Dumfries are paying the price.”

The Conservative and Unionist MSP noted that local people have no direct access and must rely on transfer to Glasgow.

However he revealed that, in reality, the service is restricted to weekdays for access to referrals, with the last procedure is at around 5 pm – and no service on a Sunday.

Mr Carson said: “The consequence is stark, if someone in Galloway has a stroke in the early evening, they are in effect denied that life-changing treatment.

“Outcomes for my constituents are being determined not by clinical need but by geography and the clock. That cannot be justified.

“What will the minister do, and when will she do it, to end that inequality?”

Earlier he had asked what progress the Scottish Government had been making towards delivering a fully operational 24/7 thrombectomy service with national coverage, including how the service will reach rural Scotland.

Responding, Maree Todd, the Minister for mental wellbeing, public health and sport, admitted they wanted people to be able to access thrombectomy treatment across Scotland, no matter where they lived.

She said: “We have already provided funding for thrombectomy nurses in spoke sites to maximise the access to thrombectomy.

“NHS Dumfries and Galloway received £115,936 in 2025-26.

“Evidence from stroke services suggests that those hyperacute stroke nursing roles are already having a positive impact on the delivery of acute and hyperacute stroke care.”

The minister confirmed that she was still committed to having a 24/7 thrombectomy service and Public Services Delivery Scotland was working with NHS boards to establish fully the resource that is required to deliver it.

Ms Todd added: “Once that has been established, we will work at pace to develop a delivery plan with timescales for service expansion.”