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Centralising acute stroke services has saved more than 400 lives since 2010

6 August 2013

New research from UCLPartners, including researchers from the Institute of Neurology, has shown that centralising acute stroke services in particular London hospitals has led to significant reductions in both mortality and costs.

For the first time, this study revealed differences in clinical outcomes and costs between the new and old models of service delivery. After adjusting for the reduction in stroke mortality that had occurred elsewhere in the UK, it was calculated that there was a relative reduction in deaths of 12% after the new system was implemented. 

This means that over 400 lives in London were saved since 2010.  If this were mapped across the country, potentially over 2,100 lives could be saved each year. 

The new model required some upfront financial investments and increased costs per patient in the first 72 hours due to the more intensive, specialist care provided to patients, but the total average 90 day cost per patient was £811 lower in the new system. This was mostly due to a reduction in the average length of hospital stay.

Currently, around 7,000 new stroke patients are treated each year in London. Using the results of the model, this equals a total cost saving of £5.6million per year at 90 days.

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