Stroke treatment - Failures that ruin lives

EVEN in normal times to be told that our response to a common but devastating illness is both less effective and more expensive than it might be is frustrating.

Yesterday’s report on how our health service helps stroke victims found the annual bill exceeds €1 billion, with 40% going to nursing homes.

The Irish Heart Foundation, who commissioned the report, claimed costs could be cut by up to €13 million a year if there was general access to stroke units and more availability of the clot-busting treatments.