Stroke patients in Marlborough are not receiving the necessary care laid down in national guidelines.
The service in Marlborough lacks rehabilitation teams, proper dysphagia or swallow assessments for patients and an efficient referral system between GPs and Blenheim's Wairau Hospital to prevent early attacks leading to full-blown strokes.
Nelson Marlborough District Health Board older person health manager Jane Large said a review of the service was ongoing and that the board was working to bring the service into line with the National Stroke Clinical Network guidelines for New Zealand.
About 50 people were admitted to Wairau Hospital every year with a stroke, she said.
Between 100 and 120 people a year were admitted to Nelson Hospital.
"There are things that need to be done but we know what they are and have plans for many of them," Mrs Large said.
Wairau Hospital didn't have the staff to provide a community rehabilitation team, which was available to patients in Nelson.
The rehab team played a vital role in helping patients to develop the skills and functions needed to remain at home.
The various disciplinary teams within the hospital setting, such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech language therapists, didn't have time to meet regularly and discuss treatments.
"All the teams are there but they don't have time to work together because they have so many other demands. They are spread between all the outpatients and inpatients."
Originally posted here:
Gaps in stroke service tackled