One in 10 stroke victims not hospitalised on time

One in ten people suspected of suffering a stroke are not brought to a hospital providing specialist treatment within the recommended four hours of the onset of symptoms.

A HSE audit found that 8% of patients were not transported by ambulance to hospitals providing acute stroke care within the timeframe that is meant to increase chances of a full recovery.

Poor record-keeping meant the HSE could not determine if the four-hour target was met in another 28% of cases.