Scottish Health Secretary Accused of 'Negligence' Over Lack of 24/7 Stroke Thrombectomy Service
Family and opposition figures demand a timetable after a man died following a 17‑hour wait for a clot‑removal procedure that is unavailable overnight across Scotland
Scotland’s Health Secretary, Neil Gray, has been accused of "negligence" after refusing to set out a timetable for delivering a 24‑hour, seven‑day thrombectomy service for stroke patients, critics said.
Thrombectomy, a procedure that removes blood clots from the brain and can rapidly restore blood flow, is offered round the clock in a number of hospitals in England. In Scotland, however, the surgery is not available in any hospital between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m., a gap that opponents say places patients at increased risk of death or disability when strokes occur outside daytime hours.
Tory councillor James Bundy said the lack of overnight provision contributed to the death of his father, Anthony, who suffered a stroke in June 2023 and died aged 53 after waiting 17 hours for a thrombectomy in Glasgow. "Neil Gray’s refusal to set a timetable for 24/7 thrombectomy is negligence," Bundy said.
Mr Gray has faced criticism in recent months over his use of chauffeur‑driven travel to attend football matches and visits to a pub. Opposition politicians and bereaved families have used that scrutiny to press for clearer commitments on emergency stroke care.
Health officials and stroke specialists say timely access to thrombectomy can dramatically improve chances of recovery by restoring blood flow to the brain quickly. The procedure is widely regarded as time‑sensitive: delays reduce its effectiveness and increase the likelihood of lasting disability or death.
Scottish government sources have previously described efforts to expand thrombectomy capacity, but critics say those plans lack firm deadlines or an assurance of overnight cover. Campaigners argue that a national timetable and investment in staffing and infrastructure are required to establish a 24/7 service comparable to provision in some English hospitals.
The dispute comes amid broader pressure on NHS Scotland to improve emergency and specialist services while managing workforce and funding constraints. Families of stroke victims, clinicians and opposition politicians have called for urgent clarity on when round‑the‑clock thrombectomy will be available.
Requests for an immediate timetable for 24/7 thrombectomy have so far been declined by the Health Secretary, according to critics. The Scottish government has not published a detailed national timeline setting out when every region would have overnight thrombectomy provision.
Campaigners said that until a clear plan with milestones is published, patients who have strokes outside daytime hours will continue to face unequal access to a treatment that can significantly alter outcomes. Health officials have said expanding specialist, on‑call teams and coordinating transfer pathways are complex undertakings that require time, resources and workforce planning.