Hospital beefs up stroke services
A BRAND new unit for the treatment of ‘mini-strokes’ has been opened.
Stepping Hill Hospital – which cares for stroke patients from Macclesfield – now has a dedicated Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) Unit which provides specialist care to patients who have suffered a mini-stroke.
The stroke team at Stepping Hill – which took over from Macclesfield General Hospital for emergency stroke treatment in 2013 – has always treated mini-stroke patients in outpatient clinics, but they have not had a dedicated TIA unit before. The new unit includes the latest scanning technology and areas where patients can be examined and treated.
A mini stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain stops for a short period of time. The disruption in blood supply results in a lack of oxygen to the brain, which can cause sudden symptoms similar to a stroke, such as speech and visual disturbance, and numbness or weakness in the face, arms and legs. These symptoms last less than 24 hours before disappearing and while mini-strokes generally do not cause permanent brain damage, they are a serious warning sign that a stroke may happen in the future and should not be ignored.
Thanks to the new unit, now officially opened by trust chief executive Ann Barnes, mini-stroke patients are now more likely to be seen quicker, with most being seen within a day of referral.
The service cares for more than 100 patients a month. Stepping Hill Hospital is one of only three specialist stroke centres in Greater Manchester. The stroke centre, which the TIA unit is part of, has recently been rated the top stroke service in the country by the independent Sentinel Stroke Audit Programme, out of a total of 224 services in the country.
Stroke lead consultant Dr Shivakumar Krishnamoorthy at Stepping Hill said: “A TIA or mini-stroke is less severe than a stroke, but it is still a frightening and harrowing experience, as well as a major warning sign for more serious attacks. We are delighted to now have a unit entirely dedicated to these patients, which will ensure the best possible care for their condition.”
Macclesfield General Hospital’s Ward 11 will continue to focus on the rehabilitation and recovery of stroke patients.