Winning double for Southend University Hospital’s stroke team
23 August 2013
Health Care
Southend University Hospital’s highly-regarded stroke team is up for another national award – the second in a month*.
The team has just heard it has won through to the final of the
prestigiousHealth Service Journal2013 awards, which attracted more
than 1000 entries from all over the country. The team has been
shortlisted in the 'secondary care service redesign' category for
its high-quality TIA (transient ischaemic attack, or mini stroke)
service.
Clinicians working at Southend recognised the significant risk
of TIAs being precursors of a major stroke and set about ensuring
patients had rapid access to appropriate treatment. High-risk
patients need to be assessed by a specialist and treated within 24
hours while low-risk patients should be seen within a week.
Working with GPs, commissioners and other community colleagues,
stroke specialist, radiologists and vascular surgeons at the
hospital set about a major overhaul of the TIA clinic.
Steps taken included:
- A social marketing project to educate the public to signs of
stroke
- Introduction of a unique online electronic referral system
- 24-hours access to the stroke team
- Introduction of a one-stop clinic where patients receive an
ECG, blood analysis and MRI brain imaging
- Stroke team's newly-acquired skills to perform carotid
ultrasound
- New medication for rapid anticoagulation
- Access to urgent surgical carotid intervention
In a recent audit, the stroke team achieved 100% both for
meeting the seven-day target for low-risk patients and treating
high-risk patients within 24 hours of referral,
Lead stroke consultant Dr Paul Guyler said: "This is another
example of the expertise and innovation we have developed in the
team to improve stroke services to patients.
"It is extremely gratifying that everyone's hard work and
dedication is being recognised nationally. But, of course, the real
reward is knowing that patients are receiving the correct advice
and immediate treatment to reduce the chances of them having a
life-changing stroke."
Hospital chief executive Jacqueline Totterdell, added: "We are
hugely proud of our stroke services. Staff show exemplary team
working which has brought tremendous benefits for patients using
these services and their families.
"It is appropriate that their efforts have been recognised more
widely and that they are now in the running for two national
awards."
Ends - with pic stroke team
*The team is also through to the final of the E-Health Insider
awards 2013 (see news release PJS/13/54)