Stroke unit move has improved care
8:00am Thursday 29th March 2012 in News By Barry Nelson , Health Editor
HOSPITAL bosses said the controversial closure of Darlingtons acute stroke unit and its transfer to Durham City has led to an increase in the number of patients given potentially life-saving clotbusting drugs.
Before the changes, about ten per cent of stroke victims brought in were given the treatment.
But in the first month of operation, the centralised stroke unit gave clot-busting drugs to 24 per cent of stroke victims.
As well as treating more patients than before, the proportion given the clot-busting drugs over the whole period since the unit moved to Durham City is averaging more than 20 per cent.
Dr Bernard Esisi, who heads the acute stroke service at the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, said: When a stroke strikes what matters is getting the right treatment quickly and in the right place.
We have seen rapid improvements in standards and the care we are providing over the past three months.
Proposals to centralise emergency stroke treatment at the University Hospital in Durham City were strongly opposed by Darlington MP Jenny Chapman and Darlington Borough Council.
But last night hospital bosses said that the move had already resulted in more patients being admitted within four hours of having a stroke.
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Stroke unit move has improved care