Stroke services Travel concerns over shake-up bid
PLANS to shake up stroke services in the West of England have prompted fears increased travel times to a single centre of excellence will heighten the risk of disability and death.
Sufferers would be taken to Southmead Hospital instead of their nearest hospital under proposals health chiefs say will save between 12 and 15 lives a year and prevent dozens from becoming disabled or needing long-term care. While nine in 10 people understood why stroke services need to change, a consultation revealed concerns about the impact on sufferers and their loved ones, with some questioning if the population’s needs would be met.
Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group said it was listening and wanted to make the right decision.
Professor Debra De Silva told governing body members on November 2: “The majority who gave reasons for their views raised concerns, whether or not they supported it in principle.
“They felt having one [hyper-acute] unit wouldn’t be enough to serve the wider region. There were concerns about potential implications on outcomes – would people be able to get to the single centre in enough time without adversely impacting themselves in terms of death or disability?”
Stroke affects more than 1,500 people in the region each year. It is the fourth biggest killer in the UK and a leading cause of disability. Better immediate care limits the extent of brain damage and early intensive rehabilitation reduces disability and preserves post-stroke independence.
Prof De Silva added: “Another key concern was the amount of time and effort it would take for loved ones to visit people, and the lack of transport and accessibility, particularly if people were coming from some of the more rural parts of the area. People were scared and worried about what this proposal might mean. Six out of 10 people said they would rather travel to the most specialist centre rather than the centre closest to them. People could see the vision but were worried about these things.”
Beneath the hyper-acute unit are proposals for hospital care in an acute unit. Half of the respondents to the consultation supported having one unit at Southmead Hospital, while others supported having two units, with a second at the BRI.”
Prof De Silva said people were concerned a single acute unit may not be able to meet the population’s needs, and worried about equity across the region and travel times for visitors.
And she said the public would feel “much more comfortable” if there were more than the two stroke rehab units proposed.
“There was a real emphasis on the inconvenience and travel for visitors.
“People supported the proposal to have one rehab unit at Weston General Hospital. Around half thought having a unit at Southmead might be quite beneficial.”
Rebecca Dunn, the CCG’s deputy director of transformation, said: “We’re listening carefully. We want to make the right decision for our population.”
A decision-making business case will be presented to the governing body in February ahead of implementation in November.