Less than half of stroke sufferers reach hospital within three hours

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly: Audit of stroke care 'points to the need for investment in more designated stroke unit beds'.

An audit of care given to stroke patients has found that less than half reached a hospital within a critical three-hour window for emergency treatment and has called for greater investment in stroke units and services.

The National Office of Clinical Audit (NOCA) is publishing the findings today of its first audit of stroke care received by 4,275 patients across 20 hospitals.