NHS Repeatedly Failing Stroke Patients, Says Watchdog

Ongoing failures in stroke diagnosis and initial care

The NHS has “repeatedly failed” in diagnosing and caring for stroke patients, the health ombudsman has said.

In the four financial years to March 2025, the number of investigations into poor stroke care – such as missed symptoms and delayed diagnosis – has risen by two thirds. There was also an increase in complaints during this time, from 318 to 396.

Complaints pointed to poor communication, substandard nursing care and delayed diagnosis and treatment of patients who had suffered strokes.

Watchdog findings are “deeply troubling”

Speaking on the findings, chief executive of the Stroke Association Juliet Bouverie said that “without urgent investment and action, stroke patients will continue to face unacceptable variations in treatment and support.”

The Stroke Association is calling on the NHS to develop a wider cardiovascular plan, with an emphasis on strokes, so that those affected will have the best chance of survival and recovery.

We spoke to our head of legal services Jacqueline Busby about the concerns raised:

“To see repeated failings in stroke care is deeply troubling. We’ve seen first-hand how a delayed stroke diagnosis can permanently alter someone’s health. We need to remember that every investigation carried out represents a person and that their life and the lives of their families have been significantly affected.

“The NHS must urgently address systemic issues in stroke recognition and response in order to prevent further harm.”

What happens if a stroke isn’t diagnosed quickly?

When strokes aren’t diagnosed straight away, the results can be devastating. Blood supply to the brain becomes limited, which can lead to brain injury, disability or death in the worst instances.

This means that when a stroke happens, time is of the essence. However, only 46.6% of patients in England are directly admitted to a specialist stroke unit within four hours of displaying symptoms. This is according to the Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme (SSNAP).

Commenting on this statistic, SSNAP’s clinical director Prof Martin James said: “We know that this reflects a whole range of acute pressures on hospitals, but we also know how important timely specialist care can be for reducing complications and disability after a stroke, so it must be a priority for all hospitals to provide access to a specialist stroke unit within four hours of arrival for all patients.”

If you or a loved one experienced a delayed stroke diagnosis, you could be entitled to support and compensation. We’re here to help you.

You can call us for a free initial chat with no obligation to go ahead, or use our simple online form.