Press Release

26th January 2012

Extended hours offer improved service for stroke patients

From February Burton Hospitals is extending its service for stroke patients who need thrombolysis treatment.

Starting from 18th/19th February, a seven-day thrombolysis service will be operating at the Burton Hospitals’ Queen’s site, Burton-on-Trent.

Currently, the service operates Monday to Friday, 7am to 8pm and the new arrangments will extend the service to cover Saturday and Sunday, between 9am – 5pm.

This means that patients arriving at the hospital, between those times who require thrombolysis treatment – that is the administration of drugs to break down blood clots – will receive treatment locally.

Pete Tari, Lead Stroke Nurse, said: “The extension to include weekend cover is in line with national policy and will significantly improve services for patients who need to be thrombolysed over the weekend and will benefit from a local service.

“We have teams of staff available to provide the treatment and in terms of our patients it means they will benefit from being treated locally.

“Outside of these times, patients who need thrombolysis treatment are taken to hospital in either Derby or Stoke-on-Trent. 

“They still receive an excellent service but we are aware it causes additional stress to both them and their families if they are taken out of the area and then transferred back to us.

“We hope the extended hours will go some way towards relieving some of this anxiety. We hope to build on the service as we make further developments to our integrated stroke unit.”

 

ENDS

 

Notes to editors
Formed in 1983 as an NHS Trust and acquiring Foundation status in November 2008, Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is the principal provider of acute hospital services for the residents of East Staffordshire, Tamworth, Lichfield, South Derbyshire and North West Leicestershire, including services at two community hospitals, Samuel Johnson in Lichfield and Sir Robert Peel in Tamworth.

Issued by Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Communications Team, Queen’s Hospital, Belvedere Road, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire DE13 0RB.

If you require any further information, please contact Pam Beecham, Communications Officer, Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust on 01283 566333 ext 5478 or email pamela.beecham@burtonh-tr.wmids.nhs.uk or visit www.burtonhospitals.nhs.uk