4. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the delivery of its stroke improvement plan. (S6O-02643)

Since the publication of the stroke improvement plan in June, the Scottish Government has appointed a consultant stroke physician as clinical lead for stroke to lead on implementing the plan. We are developing a bundle of rehabilitation measures for inclusion in the Scottish stroke care audit, and we are developing measures of patient experience of rehabilitation. We are also increasing access to thrombectomy procedures for patients who present to spoke hospitals and we are undertaking significant planning to further expand Scotland’s thrombectomy service, with a plan outlining expansion of the national thrombectomy service to be published by the end of 2023.

I thank the Minister for that response and for the information on thrombectomy.

I want to follow up on thrombectomy.

The minister will be aware of the medical procedure of thrombectomy. For others in the chamber who might not be aware of it, it can be used where a large blood clot that is blocking blood flow to the brain can be removed. As a result of thrombectomy, a patient might be up and about within days instead of being in a wheelchair for life. It is truly amazing.

Around 10 per cent of stroke patients would benefit from receiving thrombectomy. However, currently in Scotland, it happens for fewer than 1 per cent, which is the lowest level in the United Kingdom.

I note the minister’s words about the Scottish Government’s commitment to the stroke improvement plan moving forward, but I want to push her on when the Scottish Government will publish the blueprint for the steps to get us up to a fully functioning, safe and sustainable national 24/7 service, to make it available to everyone who needs it.

I commend the work that Roz McCall has been doing to promote and explain the different symptoms that a stroke could result in. I appreciate that work very much.

The Scottish Government remains committed to introducing a high-quality and clinically safe thrombectomy service in Scotland. The delivery of a national thrombectomy service has already received over £26 million of investment. Through the national thrombectomy programme board and the thrombectomy advisory group, work is being undertaken to drive expansion of the thrombectomy service. We expect additional spoke hospitals to begin referring appropriate patients for thrombectomies in the coming months, to increase geographical access to thrombectomy procedures.