Call to use the Downe as stroke recovery base

Call to use the Downe as stroke recovery base

3 April 2019

HEALTH campaigners are keen to see the Downe Hospital continuing to play an important role in the recovery of stroke patients under a new model of care which is being proposed.

The appeal for the Downpatrick hospital to deliver a so-called ‘step down’ facility for patients to assist with their recovery after emergency treatment comes after it was revealed that emergency care provision for stroke patients could be lost at a number of the province’s main hospitals.

They include Newry’s Daisy Hill, Dundonald’s Ulster Hospital, the Causeway in Coleraine, South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen and Antrim Area Hospital.

Health chiefs have proposed a new model of care to consolidate services in larger hyperacute stroke units, with the suggested number of these better resourced facilities ranging from three to five.

In all scenarios, hyperacute units will be sited at Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital, Altnagelvin in Londonderry and Craigavon Area Hospital. In a five-unit model, acute services would also be offered in Enniskillen and Antrim.

As well as offering acute care at eight hospitals, the existing stroke care network provides supporting treatments, such as rehabilitation at the Downe, Lisburn’s Lagan Valley and Belfast’s Mater Hospital.

The new proposals — announced last week — have gone out for a 12-week public consultation, with health officials insisting they will lead to better outcomes for patients.

They argue dedicated stroke units will able to provide increased use of the clot-busting therapy thrombolysis and support greater access to thrombectomy, a groundbreaking procedure that removes clots from the brain.

Local health campaigners insist they are not opposed to change and providing better services for stroke patients, but believe there can be a role for the Downe moving forward.

They say the hospital has not only the capacity to provide recovery and rehabilitation services for stroke patients, but an excellent staff team which can meet the needs of patients.

Down Community Health Committee chairman Eamonn McGrady, says the absence of dedicated stroke units at Newry’s Daisy Hill and the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald moving forward “reinforces” the campaigners’ argument that there is a need for a step down facility at the Downe Hospital.

“The stroke team at the Downe is known for the excellence of its outcomes and the hospital is a logical base in which to develop the rehabilitation work that patients will require after initial emergency treatment,” he continued.

“In addition, the hospital itself is more than capable of accommodating such a service and is also ideally located to provide a dedicated rehabilitation service for people with limited mobility and access issues.”

Mr McGrady also revealed this week that Department of Health Permanent Secretary Richard Pengelly is unable to meet with local campaigners to discuss a range of key issues due to “diary pressures”.

One of the issues campaigners have highlighted is additional bed provision at the Downpatrick  hospital to meet the needs of local people and new services which will be coming.

In a letter to the Community Health Committee, Mr Pengelly said it was his understanding that bed capacity within the Downpatrick hospital “largely meets the needs of the local population” explaining it is an issue which is kept continually under review.

He also confirmed that the South Eastern Trust, which manages the Downe, is developing a range of new services across all its hospital sites to enable patients to be treated on the same day, avoiding the need for a hospital admission.

Mr McGrady added: “The Downe is a proper hospital and is in a location where more complex surgery involving short stay could easily be delivered.

“We are anxious that this happens and are acutely aware that it was not that long ago that a senior Department of Health official said people in this area had cause to feel aggrieved about the level of investment in our hospital services.”