TREATMENT and care of stroke patients at Abergavenny"s Nevill Hall Hospital has been rated the best in Wales and among the best in Great Britain by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP).

The work done by a multi-disciplinary team at the hospital was ranked 13th out of 246 hospitals nationwide, following detailed scrutiny by experts on behalf of the RCP.

Dr Pradeep Khanna, lead clinician for stroke care at Nevill Hall, said: "This is a very satisfying outcome because we operate with a very small team."

"The unit was established around 1999. We have gradually improved every year and there is always room for more improvement.

"We see about 400 cases a year and also see patients who are having symptoms suggestive of a stroke. It is vital these people are seen as early as possible to try to prevent a stroke."

Scoring for the audit was based on 12 criteria covering aspects of treatment and care from admission to a stroke unit, through assessment of the extent of a stroke, rehabilitation, and arrangements made prior to discharge for a patient"s post-hospital care. The numbers and ages of patients treated in each unit were also measured.

Each of the criteria had pre-set aspirational scores and there was also an overall score against which hospitals were measured.

Nevill Hall was the best of 20 sites in Wales, with an overall score of 81 against the aspirational 61. It also outscored the aspirational marks on 10 of the 12 individual criteria.

Gwent"s two other stroke units, at Newport"s St Woolos Hospital and Caerphilly District Miners Hospital, scored 56 and 51 respectively.

The RCP audit revealed that some hospitals deliver exceptionally high quality stroke care, demonstrating that desired standards can be achieved. But the audit report describes stroke care in a few hospitals as "lamentable".

The report also highlights Wales" lack of a National Service Framework including stroke care standards, which it says "appears to have handicapped the development of specialist stroke services".

Despite a lack of such units, however, performance in most of the 12 criteria was similar to England.