Only 4.3% of stroke patients in England can access life-saving treatment

Mechanical thrombectomy can save a patient from permanent disability or death, but its availability depends on where they live

Most stroke patients in England suitable for treatment that can save them from serious disability or even death cannot access it, new figures reveal.

It is estimated that at least 10% of stroke patients can benefit from a treatment known as mechanical thrombectomy. Under the procedure, a wire and stent is manoeuvred towards the brain to pull out the clot blocking the blood flow. The treatment reduces the adverse effects of a stroke and in the best outcomes a patient could walk out of hospital the next day.