A quarter of stroke patients are still not receiving rapid treatment in dedicated units despite evidence to show it improves survival chances and minimises disability, a national audit revealed.

The study of hospitals in England, Wales and Northern Ireland by the Royal College of Physicians noted an improvement in stroke care since it was last carried out in 2006.

However, only 29% of patients were admitted to a specialist unit on the same day as their stroke, 17% within four hours and 57% within two days.

Use of the “FAST” (Face, Arm, Speech Test) by ambulance staff to test for symptoms was recorded in around a quarter of patients’ notes.

Only a fifth of patients had a brain scan within three hours of admission, the audit found.

And a “worrying number” were moved into nursing homes directly from hospital.

Read full article: Channel 4 News.