Stroke patients to be taken 20-30 miles for urgent care as Yeovil unit closes
Stroke patients around Yeovil will be taken 20 to 30 miles for urgent care as the hospital’s hyper-acute stroke unit closes.
Yeovil Hospital’s emergency hyper-acute stroke unit is closing despite a campaign to keep it open, with patients instead taken to Taunton or Dorchester.
Campaigners argued there was “no logic” in the closure and said it would leave patients at risk. Yeovil Hospital will retain its acute stroke provision.
Dr Bernie Marden, chief medical officer representing NHS Somerset and NHS Dorset integrated care boards, said they were “committed” to finding the best solution for all stroke patients in Somerset and Dorset.
He said: “We all know that getting timely treatment, and importantly in the right place, is in the best interest of a stroke patient and this system helps us to make that judgement much quicker.”
John Falconer, who represents patients in Yeovil and across south Somerset, said: “If you live in and around Yeovil, you will initially be taken to Taunton or Dorchester for immediate treatment – that’s not good enough.
“Stroke is a time-critical issue and you need medication as quickly as you can. Because of the delays, patients will be harmed. Clinical outcome will not be as good as it would have been.”
The NHS categorises stroke services as hyper-acute, where emergency treatment is required within the first 72 hours, or acute, where the stroke is less life-threatening.
A hyper-acute stroke unit treats patients during the first 72 hours after a stroke and provides brain scans and drugs to treat blood clots.
Patients will now be seen at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton or Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester.
A new Pre-Hospital Video Triage system is also being introduced across Somerset and Dorset, allowing ambulance clinicians to consult stroke specialists by video link while assessing patients.
NHS leaders said the new service would be closely monitored after implementation and would include a range of patient safety measures.
