Survivors say Downe should be retained

Survivors say Downe should be retained

20 September 2017

STROKE survivors have urged health chiefs not to downgrade stroke services at the Downe Hospital.

After a public meeting in Downpatrick heard radical proposals could see the Downe stripped of it’s key rehabilitation role, two survivors from Saintfield said the local hospital must continue to help stroke victims with their recovery.

The meeting was held to discuss plans by the Health and Social Care Board to rationalise stroke services from 11 hospital sites to possibly as few as four which would provide all stroke services including the rehabilitation role currently provided by the Downe.

At present the majority of people suffering from a major stroke in east Down are treated in the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald before being transferred to smaller hospitals such as the Downe to continue rehabilitation. Some who suffer minor strokes can be treated in Downpatrick.

But health chiefs believe the care of stroke patients is patchy in Northern Ireland and many do not receive the care, treatment or long-term support they required.

They believe that concentrating all stroke services in a handful of hospitals would improve the quality of the overall service and give patients a better chance of making a full or better recovery.

Saintfield’s Kim Colhoun and Robert Burgess — who have both suffered a stroke and been treated at the Royal Hospital in Belfast — say while they welcome plans to improve services for stroke patients, they are keen to see rehabilitation services remain at the Downe Hospital.

However, they said there is an urgent need to invest in the Ambulance Service to ensure people can be taken to major stroke centres without delay.

The duo, who attended last week’s public meeting in Downpatrick, believe enhanced stroke provision at the Downe to help patients recover would free up beds at dedicated stroke centres allowing more people to be treated there. They are also keen to see rehabilitation exercise classes for stroke patients currently provided in Lisburn extended to Downpatrick.

Mrs Colhoun, who suffered a stroke in February this year, said there is a need for major stroke centres where specialist staff can treat people quickly. She is in no doubt the fact she was treated shortly after she became ill ensured she survived and did not suffer any debilitating disabilities.

“I am in a much better place mentally and physically because I was treated quickly for a blood clot in the main artery into my brain” she explained. “I could have died or been left with no speech and major paralysis, but am where I am because of the urgent treatment I received.”

She added: “Time is of the essence when you suffer a stroke and being seen by experts in a specialist centre is vital. To ensure this happens locally we need an improved ambulance service and I also agree with those keen for a so-called step down facility for stroke patients at the Downe Hospital where they can continue their recovery and rehabilitation.”

Mr Burgess said while there needs to be specialist stroke centres, it is vital there is adequate emergency ambulance cover to get people to them to receive the urgent treatment they require.

“There have been a number of occasions when emergency ambulance cover in the Down area was found wanting and if health officials are really serious about saving the lives of stroke patients, they need to make sure there are enough ambulances to get people where they need to be quickly,” he continued. 

“You can have the best treatment centres in the world, but they are no good to you if you can’t get to one on time because an ambulance isn’t available. We need major stroke centres, but post treatment, why not let more patients continue their recovery in hospitals like the Downe which has the capacity to do so?”

Mr Burgess added: “Major stroke centres are essential, but facilities in smaller hospitals like the Downe are equally important and should be a key part of any new stroke service. The Downe has the capacity to provide additional services and should be permitted to do so.”