New stroke services now live in Somerset and Dorset

Final preparations have been taking place this week to support the introduction of changes to stroke services, designed to help patients access specialist emergency hyperacute stroke care more quickly, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The new service launched today (Wednesday 9 September), following significant work by NHS partners across Somerset and Dorset to develop, test and prepare for the new services to open for patients. Investment has been made in workforce, facilities and clinical pathways, including refurbishment of stroke units, recruitment of additional nursing and medical staff, development of a new standard operating procedure and simulation testing to support implementation.

Dr Bernie Marden, Chief Medical Officer for Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire, NHS Dorset and NHS Somerset Integrated Care Boards, said:

“We would like to thank the clinical, operational and support teams whose hard work, expertise and commitment have helped make these improvements possible. We would also like to thank those groups who helped to design the new services including patients with lived experience of stroke, carers, The Stroke Association, Healthwatch and many others who've helped to shape these developments.

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. We are committed to finding the best solution for all stroke patients in Somerset and Dorset.”

What is changing

Emergency stroke care is now being provided through two 24/7 Hyperacute Stroke Units at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton and Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester.

Yeovil Hospital will continue to provide an Acute Stroke Unit and stroke rehabilitation services, enabling many patients to continue their recovery closer to home after their emergency care.

Significant investment has been made to support the new model, including improvements to stroke units and therapy facilities at Musgrove Park Hospital, Yeovil Hospital and Dorset County Hospital:

• creation of a new rehabilitation gym and improved therapy facilities at Yeovil Hospital, including an activities of daily living (ADL) flat with lounge, kitchen and bathroom facilities to support rehabilitation;
• refurbishment of the stroke unit at Musgrove Park Hospital to provide new hyperacute stroke beds, improved rehabilitation facilities and a ward layout that enables the service to operate as a single unit;
• refurbishment of the stroke unit at Dorset County Hospital to support delivery of the new service model
• additional nursing and medical staff have been recruited to support delivery of the new service.

The new pathways have been developed collaboratively by Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, NHS Somerset and NHS Dorset.

Watch the video from Somerset FT consultant stroke physician, Dr Rob Whiting, who explains the changes to stroke pathways and the developments that have been put in place.

Recognising the signs of stroke

If you think you or someone else may be having a stroke, call 999 immediately, even if the symptoms seem mild or temporary.

More information

You can read the full stakeholder briefing from NHS Somerset, or read more about the transformation of stroke pathways across Somerset.

Visit the NHS England website for advice on the signs and symptoms of stroke.

For more information about the stroke changes and advice, you can watch this short video.