HEALTH CHIEFS are proposing to transfer the specialist stroke unit at Bromsgrove’s Princess of Wales Community Hospital to Evesham.
Bosses claim the eight-bed relocation is being done to improve services but the move will see Bromsgrove patients and their families face a 40-minute drive, or even longer via public transport.
It comes after the three sites – Bromsgrove, Evesham and Timberdine in Worcester – struggled to secure appropriate specialist stroke consultants. After assessing the situation, Evesham was deemed to have enough space for 32 specialist stroke rehab beds.Currently, stroke sufferers receive immediate treatment at the Worcestershire Royal’s Acute Stroke Unit before being transferred to one of the three specialist stroke rehabilitation wards. They are then discharged with support from the Community Stroke Service if needed.
The changes could be introduced as soon as possible to support the wider system over the winter when healthcare demand is highest.
Bernice Jones is the regional director of The Stroke Association which chose Bromsgrove as the location to build its first ever Life After Stroke Centre.
She said stroke patients needed to come to terms with its physical and emotional impact, adding 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.
She said the charity supported the decision to provide specialist care in one place at this time but 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.”
She said it was crucial for all Worcestershire residents to have access the very best stroke treatment, followed by specialist rehabilitation.
“However, stroke survivors also need long-term support to rebuild their lives at home, in their own community.”
Dr Carl Ellson, on behalf of the three Worcestershire CCGs, said the move would see patients have access to expert clinicians seven-days-a-week, helping them recover quicker and improving their long-term outcomes.
He said the lack of stroke consultants was a national issue and not just Worcestershire adding having a specialist stroke rehabilitation service would attract more stroke consultants to come and work in the area.
Bromsgrove District Council leader, Coun Geoff Denaro, and Redditch Borough Council leader, Coun Bill Hartnett, are writing a joint letter expressing their concerns.
Health commissioners will meet with affected patients to see how things can be made easier, such as transport and visitor times. The stroke unit at the Princess of Wales will remain available to provide general rehabilitation.
Patients receiving treatment during the transfer will not be moved.
