STROKE patients can now be rushed to a hospital 24 hours a day for life-saving treatment.
King's Mill Hospital in Sutton-in-Ashfield can now offer thrombolysis – a vital clot-busting treatment which must be given extremely quickly to be effective – throughout the day and night.
The service previously only operated from 8am to 6pm and meant patients would have to travel much further to Nottingham's City Hospital, taking valuable minutes in travel time, if they had a stroke in the north of the county.
Dr Martin Cooper, Head of Service for Stroke at Sherwood Forest Hospitals, said: "This is great news for patients and their families. The service will be provided by doctors and a dedicated team of staff who are highly skilled in all aspects of stroke care."
The news comes just months after a high level investigation found failings in the health service in relation to a case where an elderly patient had a stroke.
When John Mallalieu fell ill, an East Midlands Ambulance Service first-responder called King's Mill from his home in Caunton, to tell medics that an ambulance would be taking him in.
After delays in an ambulance arriving, its crew called again and were told that Mr Mallalieu could no longer be taken to King's Mill as its stroke unit was due to close to admissions at 5pm and were diverted to Nottingham City Hospital.
Mr Mallalieu died two days later.
The extended service means the treatment can now be given at both King's Mill Hospital and Nottingham's City Hospital all the time.
Paul Jagus, from Warsop in Mansfield, has received end of stroke treatment at Nottingham City Hospital and King's Mill Hospital.
The 62-year-old said: "When I had my first stroke three years ago I was taken to Nottingham City Hospital. The treatment was very good, but it took a long time to get there.
"When I had my second stroke in June I was taken to King's Mill Hospital. The stroke team were waiting for me and they didn't waste any time in getting me treated. They were brilliant and less than a week later I was back at work." I put this down to the quicker treatment.
"It is great that stroke services will be available 24/7 at the hospital. If I was unfortunate enough to have another stroke it is good to know that this service is closer to home. This is bound to benefit stroke patients in the area."
