Improvements for stroke patients (From South Wales Argus)

Improvements for stroke patients

9:10am Saturday 26th December 2009 in Gwent news

HEALTH bosses are carrying out a range of improvements to services in Gwent hospitals, designed to benefit the area's stroke patients.

The ringfencing of stroke beds at both the Royal Gwent and Nevill Hall Hospitals, the availability of a thrombolysis service at both sites - to give patients quick access to clot-busting drugs - and the availablity of seven days a week CT scanning are key priorities as part of a plan designed to improve care from admission to and discharge from hospital, and beyond.

Aneurin Bevan Health Board's stroke services action plan has been compiled to address issues identified internally and externally, the latter through the Assembly's Stroke Service Improvement Programme (SSIP) following a visit from programme memebers in the autumn.

The plan stresses the need for the health board to work with councils across Gwent, the ambulance service and SSIP to ensure that stroke patients' treatment and care continues seamlessly into the community.

A thrombolysis service is now available at both major hospital sites during the day, and the aim is to make this available at all hours from April next year.

Nevill Hall already offers 24/7 CT scanning and the Royal Gwent's five days a week service is currently being expanded.

Five-days-a-week TIA (transient ischaemic attack) clinics have also been established at both hospitals, for patients who have episodes that could indicate they are at risk of suffering a full-blown stroke.

Two clinical nurse specialists for stroke are now based at each hospital, and a dedicated clinical psychologist for stroke services, working throughout Gwent, has been appointed.

Further consideration is being given to other developments, such as patient access to a social worker dealing with strokes, and the appointment of dedicated stroke physicians.

On a regional basis, the priority issue is considering whether to develop neuro-radiology services.