Mobile unit to bring ‘hospital-level care’ to stroke patients
The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and the East of England Ambulance Trust have launched a six week trial with its mobile stroke unit. Picture: NNUH - Credit: Archant
Hospital-level care is being taken into homes in Norwich as part of a trial to speed up stroke patient’s treatment.
The East of England Ambulance Service and Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital have teamed up to run a mobile stroke unit in the greater Norwich area for six weeks with the hope to run a permanent service in the region.
The stroke unit is a modified ambulance and is staffed by a consultant and paramedic who can access clot busting drug treatment and CT scan as well as a video link with a radiology consultant at the NNUH to ensure a speedy diagnosis and treatment.
Dan Phillips, EEAST area clinical lead, said: “The ambulance is great in reducing the time it takes to diagnose and treat a patient who is having a stroke and it could have a big benefit for people living in rural areas. It is bringing hospital-level care to the patient’s home.”
Dr Annie Chakrabarti, consultant stroke physician at NNUH, added: “We are delighted to be involved in this exciting initiative. If we can intervene and administer clot-busting drugs within 60 minutes of the stroke happening, this could make a really significant difference to the outcome for these patients.
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“Patients who require admission to hospital for further treatment will also be admitted directly to the stroke unit, reducing the need to attend the Emergency Department.”
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