To report progress made by the National Clinical Governance Support Team's (CGST) Programme for Stroke between 2001 and 2004 and its effects on service provision.
The effectiveness of the Stroke Programme on services was assessed by comparing changes in services in Trusts which had undergone the process with those in a control group.
Using the Review, Agree, Implement, Demonstrate (RAID) model, the Stroke Programme led to benefits which include greater participation by patients and carers in treatment programmes and in development of services. Quantitative assessment of the extent of change in stroke services showed a significantly greater change in stroke unit provision, staffing levels and new funding in those sites which had attended the Stroke Programme.
The review provides an overview of recent developments in stroke services in the UK and describes the benefits of intervention by the Clinical Governance Programme.
