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Presents the results of a national postal survey of all British hospital consultant geriatricians, general physicians, general physicians and neurologists in 1992/93. Description of the provision of hospital stroke services in the United Kingdom; Assessment of the implementation of the recommendations of the King's Fund consensus conference.

Presents correspondence about the National Health Service (NHS) in Great Britain. Implications on performance of circumcision in the NHS; Treatment of the fats in the cell carcinoma; Identification of the malignant melanoma.

Discusses why there has been a failure to implement thrombolysis for acute ischaemic stroke in Great Britain. Trial conducted by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; Information on the Third International Stroke Trial; Reason for implementing a thrombolysis service for ischaemic stroke.

Objective To report the number of participants needed to recruit per baby born to trial staff during AVERT, a large international trial on acute stroke, and to describe trial management consequences. Design Retrospective observational analysis. Setting 56 acute stroke hospitals in eight countries. Participants 1074 trial physiotherapists, nurses, and other clinicians. Outcome measures Number of babies born during trial recruitment per trial participant recruited. Results With 198 site recruitment years and 2104 patients recruited during AVERT, 120 babies were born to trial staff. Births led to an estimated 10% loss in time to achieve recruitment. Parental eave was linked to six trial site closures. The number of participants needed to recruit per baby born was 17.5 (95% confidence interval 14.7 to 21.0); additional trial costs associated with each birth were estimated at 5736 Australian dollars on average. Conclusion The staff absences registered in AVERT owing to parental leave led to delayed trial recruitment and increased costs. However, the celebration of new life became a highlight of the annual AVERT meetings and helped maintain a cohesive collaborative group. Trial registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry no 12606000185561. Disclaimer Participation in a rehabilitation trial does not guarantee successful reproductive activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]