McCrossan calls for 24/7 stroke treatment as patients denied lifesaving care

WEST Tyrone MLA., Daniel McCrossan, Has called for urgent action to improve access to lifesaving stroke treatment in Northern Ireland, warning that patients are being failed by a system that limits care to office hours.

Thrombectomy, a proven and life changing stroke treatment which removes blood clots from the brain, is currently only available in Northern Ireland between 8am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Outside these hours, eligible patients are unable to access treatment, despite strong evidence that it significantly reduces death, disability and long term care costs when delivered quickly.

McCrossan said the current situation is unacceptable for patients and families.

“Stroke does not wait for office hours and neither should treatment," the SDLP MLA said.

"Every hour of delay reduces the chance of recovery, yet in 2026 we are still operating a nine to five stroke service.

This is a proven intervention that saves lives and reduces disability.

"The continued absence of a 24/7 service means patients are being denied life changing care, with devastating consequences for families.”

The Stroke Action Plan committed to delivering a full 24-hour thrombectomy service by the end of 2024, but that deadline has passed with no clear delivery plan or timeline in place.

McCrossan said the failure to deliver reflects a wider pattern of broken promises in health.

He added: "The Department of Health committed to this service two years ago, yet there is still no roadmap, no funding clarity and no urgency. That is simply not good enough.”

He pointed to progress elsewhere.

“England has committed to full 24/7 access by April 2026. If that can be delivered there, patients in Northern Ireland deserve no less.”

The SDLP is calling for a time bound plan from the Department of Health, including staffing, funding and a clear implementation timeline.

“What we have now is not working. It does not have to be this way, but it requires political will and urgent action to ensure stroke patients get the care they need, when they need it," the West Tyrone MLA concluded.