April 17, 2012
Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust is launching a local stroke awareness day on 19 April 2012. There are around 1,200 admissions per year for stroke diagnosis and treatment at Queen Alexandra Hospital (QAH) for the extensive range of acute services available to support the stroke service.
On the day they will be holding health checks and advice from staff, and in conjunction with the National Stroke Association.
At QAH they have successfully thrombolysed 110 patients since March 2009. Thrombolysis dissolves blood clots which stop blood going round your body. Thrombolysis treatment must be started within three hours of the start of the signs of a stroke.
‘After the initial stroke we aim, where ever appropriate, to get patients back home as soon as possible as we have found being in their own environment can aid recovery. Family and friends also appreciate not having to visit hospital too!’ says Jane Williams, Chief of Medicine for Older People, Rehabilitation and Stroke. ‘Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust provides rehabilitation to 40-60% of stroke patients in their own home. This service compliments the acute and in-patient stroke services we provide.’
As soon as you notice or suspect the onset of a stroke, you need to call 999. The quicker you get to us, the more of the person we may be able to save. Remember the FAST TV adverts:
F – Face
A – Arms
S – Speech
T – Time to call 999
Thankful for the recent TV campaign, local resident John Chapman said: " I was immediately able to identify that my wife was having a stroke because I had seen the FAST campaign on TV. The left side of her face was “slack” and her speech became increasingly slurred. The speed of their response was very reassuring. I followed the ambulance to QA hospital and on arrival found the consultant was controlling Pauline’s treatment and wanted her to have a scan as soon as possible. The feedback at the time helped to keep me calm."
