February 26, 2010
Key decisions about the future of stroke and heart care for patients in Lincolnshire were discussed at the Health Scrutiny Committee meeting yesterday.
NHS Lincolnshire and United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust outlined proposals for the development of specialist centres in the region where local residents will receive vital assessment and treatment during the early stages of suffering a stroke or heart attack.
The plans were presented to the Health Scrutiny Committee with feedback from patients, carers and stakeholders. The Committee was confident in the plans and supported the development of these services in Lincolnshire.
Specialist stroke centres will work from Lincoln County Hospital and Pilgrim Hospital, meaning that patients will get the most appropriate care within three hours of a stroke developing.
These services will improve the recovery of patients suffering from this type of stroke and they will spend less time in hospital than they currently do.
The network of local hospitals across Lincolnshire will provide support and provide general stroke services and rehabilitation closer to home.
Improvements in emergency heart treatment will also be established at a new specialist centre in Lincoln County hospital by the middle of 2011.
Patients will be able to have highly specialised treatment to restore blood flow through the arteries at the very early stages of developing a heart attack.
At the moment only a few patients across the East Midlands are able to receive this treatment and providing this service in Lincolnshire will be a major improvement for patients.
Martin McShane, Director of Strategic Planning and Health Outcomes for NHS Lincolnshire said: "We are delighted that our proposals have been well received by Lincolnshire's Health Scrutiny Committee. The plans which have been developed around feedback from patients, carers and stakeholder groups will transform the way patients in Lincolnshire are cared for. We will continue to work closely with United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust and NHS East Midlands to implement these changes to ultimately save lives."
Cllr Mrs Christine Talbot, Chairman of the Health Scrutiny Committee for Lincolnshire, said: "The committee has closely followed the development of these proposals and are confident that a great deal of stakeholder engagement has been carried out, and that this will continue to take place. These services will represent a significant improvement to the treatment of cardiac and stroke patients in Lincolnshire and we're keen to follow their progress."
