Stroke patients from Enfield are likely to be forced to travel further while suffering a seizure under plans to further rejig the NHS.

One of the latest big ideas in London is the creation of eight specialist stroke and trauma centres around the capital, one of which will either be at Barnet Hospital or in Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow in West London.

Treatment of a stroke in the early stages is crucial to saving lives and preventing long-term damage, and the Government target is that all people should be within 30 minutes ambulance ride of treatment.

According to Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals Trust, which is fighting for the “hyper-acute stroke unit”, a local centre would meet that target.

Barnet and Chase Farm hospitals had 672 emergency stroke admissions in 2007, while Northwick Park had just 465.

Yet Healthcare for London, the body which represents all PCTs across London, said in its stroke consultation document that: “Both hospitals showed they could equally meet future standards. Northwick Park is our preferred site for the hyper-acute stroke unit as it provides better travel times and its location better reflects existing patient flows.”

Read full article: This Is Local London.