Hospital top for stroke care

WARRINGTON Hospital is among the top 25 per cent of hospitals across the country for stroke care.
This is revealed in the latest “Stroke Sentinel” audit carried out by The Royal College of Physicians.
The survey shows that the stroke unit at Warrington Hospital is ranked as one of the top performers nationally.
It places Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in the top quartile of hospitals nationally – which represents an improvement over recent years.
Two years ago the Stroke Sentinel audit placed the Trust in the middle quartile.
The survey shows that 90 per cent of stroke patients received their care in a specialist acute stroke unit – up from 83 per cent previously.
The Trust was also one of only 28 per cent of hospitals that from April 2010 could arrange 24/7 access to clot-busting thrombolysis treatment.
It was also one of only 44 per cent of hospitals nationally that had a specialist early supported discharge team and one of only 55 per cent of units nationally who could offer patients access to specialist community rehabilitation.
Dr Ola Otaiku, stroke lead at the Trust said: “This is excellent news and we congratulate everyone involved in the provision of stroke services at the Trust. To be in the top quartile of hospitals nationally is an excellent achievement.
“People across Warrington and Halton can be assured that they are receiving the best stroke care we can provide. We are particularly proud of our Early Supported Discharge Service, which was created in partnership by our Stroke Rehabilitation Team and Warrington Community Services Unit Community Neuro Team.
“We will take the needs of stroke patients very seriously, and will continue to do so in the future”.