Potentially vital emergency care was delayed after computer software used by call-handlers at South Central Ambulance Service NHS Trust (SCAS) misdiagnosed stroke victims.

During the six-month study (December 2006 to May 2007), of almost 5,000 patients admitted to Basingstoke hospital by ambulance, 126 were subsequently diagnosed by a doctor as having had a stroke.

Read full article:  This is Hampshire.

They are working closely with our local hospitals and stroke networks to develop the region’s stroke treatment and ensure that appropriate acute services are in place.

Read full article: Crawley Observer.

The study of hospitals in England, Wales and Northern Ireland by the Royal College of Physicians noted an improvement in stroke care since it was last carried out in 2006.

However, only 29% of patients were admitted to a specialist unit on the same day as their stroke, 17% within four hours and 57% within two days.

Use of the “FAST” (Face, Arm, Speech Test) by ambulance staff to test for symptoms was recorded in around a quarter of patients’ notes.

Only a fifth of patients had a brain scan within three hours of admission, the audit found.

And a “worrying number” were moved into nursing homes directly from hospital.

Read full article: Channel 4 News.

The survey was carried out to coincide with the NHS’ FAST campaign so people can recognise strokes quicker and get help to the patient more promptly.

FAST stands for: Facial Weakness, Arm Weakness, Speech Problems and Time to call 999.
Signs to look for including droopy eyes or mouths, the inability to smile, patients being unable to raise both arms and speech problems, such as incoherent talking and the inability to understand what is being said to them.

In total, 85 per cent of residents who took the survey said they would call an ambulance if they noticed one of the four signs of a stroke, but a worrying 12 percent said they would simply give the patient aspirin or refer them to a GP.

Read full article: The Redditch Standard.

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.

Medical staff and fundraisers have been getting behind the StrokeBusters campaign to revamp Southend Hospital’s stroke unit into a specialist centre.

The unit now offers a clot-busting drug, which the hospital claims has reduced deaths in stroke patients by 40 per cent.

The fundraising appeal took two years to reach its financial target, but already the unit is trailblazing its approach to treatment by treating an average of eight patients a month with the wonder drug, compared to the average six patients a year across the rest of the country.

The campaigns success comes as the Government continues to increase awareness about the dangers of strokes with its Act Fast campaign. The end of the StrokeBusters appeal was celebrated at Maxims Casino, in Western Esplanade, Westcliff, this week.

Colin George, chairman of the Southend Hospital Charitable Foundation, thanked everyone for helping the fundraising team to reach the target.

He said: “The support we have received from individuals, groups and local businesses has been tremendous, particularly in view of the current financial difficulties. We now have a stroke unit to be very proud of which will benefit us all.”

The campaign was started in April 2007, when the hospital set the ambitious goal of raising the cash in two years. Community groups and businesses responded with dozens of events that raised cash for the appeal, including sponsored walks, carnivals and parties.

The upgraded stroke unit was officially opened in June last year, but the campaign continued to raise funds to pay for equipment, such as a heart-monitoring station and computer equipment.

At the end of the two years, the appeal had raised more than £650,000 and the remaining £350,000 was paid for by the Southend University Hospital Trust.

The refurbished Benfleet and Paglesham wards at the hospital now provide a 14-bed acute unit and 26 rehabilitation beds, while a gym helps stroke patients through the rehabilitation process.

The hospital also used the money to become a centre offering the drug actilyse, a thrombolytic drug that reduces the risk of brain damage by 30 per cent if it is given to stroke patients within three hours.

On Tuesday, the hospital treated its 150th patient with the clot-busting drug since the service began 18 months ago.

Barbara Warner, senior fundraiser for the campaign, said the campaign had gone beyond improving the service at the hospital and had importantly raised awareness of the dangers posed by stroke in the community.

She said: “It’s vital and I think in our area, because we are a local campaign we have helped to raise awareness significantly.

“You can’t beat a local campaign to help spread the word and now people know they have got to ring 999 and get themselves to hospital very quickly.”

Southend Echo

Thanks @stuartpin – Twitter