Terms of Reference

We have agreed the following terms of reference for our inquiry:

To examine the current provision of services for stroke victims in Wales and the effectiveness of Welsh government policies in addressing any weaknesses in these services, including:

• availability of specialist stroke units in hospitals across Wales and geographical variation in these services;

• the resources devoted to stroke services in Wales;

• availability of specialist staff in acute settings, recruitment and training;

• availability of specialist equipment, such as scanners to determine type of stroke;

• availability of aftercare and rehabilitation services, including speech and language therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and other community based services

• good practice in the treatment and management of stroke in Wales, the UK and other countries and ways in which such practice can be disseminated;

• programmes for the prevention of stroke and the promotion of lifestyles that minimise the risk of stroke;

• the effectiveness of indicators and performance measures applied to stroke services;

• the impact of NHS restructuring on stroke services in Wales; and

• equality issues relating to the provision of stroke services, including those for BME groups.”