NHS survival a postcode lottery

Published on Tuesday 29 January 2008 21:09

SURVIVAL rates after heart attacks, strokes and hip fractures vary widely across Scotland, figures revealed yesterday.

The overall proportion of patients surviving after suffering serious illnesses, such as stroke, has risen since 1998. But figures showed that in the past year, some health boards saw survival rates fall, with wide differences between the regions.

The proportion of patients surviving for 30 days after being admitted with a stroke fell slightly between 2005 and 2006, from 81 per cent to 80.6 per cent. But the survival rate varied from 68.7 per cent in Dumfries and Galloway to 84.1 per cent in Lothian.

The figures, from ISD Scotland, the health-statistics body, also revealed that 30-day survival after a heart attack improved from 85.1 per cent in 2005 to 85.8 per cent in 2006.

But rates varied from 81.5 per cent in Lanarkshire to 89.5 per cent in Borders and Highland.

Survival at 120 days after a hip fracture rose from 80.6 per cent in 2005 to 82.6 per cent in 2006. Rates varied from 79.4 per cent in Forth Valley to 88.2 per cent in Dumfries and Galloway. Experts believe the variations could be explained by different population characteristics, with more elderly people in some areas.

The figures also showed that readmission within 28 days of medical treatment went up from 9.8 per 100 discharges in 1998 to 11.2 per cent in 2006.

Ross Finnie, the Lib Dem health spokesman, was concerned at the rise in readmissions. "I hope this is not a sign that patients are being discharged too early by doctors trying to meet waiting-time targets," he said.