THE PROPOSALS to relocate Bromsgrove’s specialist stroke unit from the Princess of Wales Community Hospital to Evesham has been agreed.
We reported at the end of last year about the plans which would see the eight beds at Bromsgrove and others in Worcester moved to a specialist unit at Evesham Community Hospital.
This would mean all patients across the county who needed a specialist rehab bed post stroke would be admitted to Evesham. The total number of beds, 32 in all, will be maintained.
The proposal was put forward by the Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust and the three local clinical commissioning groups (CCGs).
And last Wednesday (February 8) the board of Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust approved those proposals but following discussions and engagement with patients and families, it has also committed to developing ideas and changes which could make it easier for those who, as part of the plans, will be required to travel to Evesham from other parts of the county.
Among them are increasing visiting times for families, support with identifying public transport options, investigating digital options and the support of hospital volunteers in helping patients stay in touch with family while on the ward.
The plans to consolidate the specialise stroke rehab beds at Evesham Community Hospital in full will come into effect in early April but Evesham will start taking more new admissions from the middle of this week.
When the plans were unveiled last year Bernice Jones, the regional director of The Stroke Association, said patients were more likely to make a better recovery and spend less time in hospital with specialist care from a co-ordinated team on a stroke unit and high quality rehabilitation.
But she added: “We would like to see consideration in the future of a second stroke rehabilitation centre in the north of the county, which could support local stroke patients throughout their recovery.
“Family support is hugely important to stroke survivors, and this would help ensure families and carers can visit their loved ones.”
