Changes to Stroke Services – Establishment of Hyper Acute Stroke Units
On 14 February 2019 it was announced that Stroke Services across Kent & Medway would be reconfigured. A letter from Rachel Jones, Senior Responsible Officer for the Kent and Medway Stroke Review and Director of Acute Strategy and Partnerships, Kent and Medway STP, explaining the implications of this is available here for your information.
From 2020 two Hyper Acute Stroke Units will be established at Darent Valley Hospital and Maidstone Hospital. Stroke patients will no longer be taken to and treated at The Tunbridge Wells Hospital in Pembury.
The proposal also includes the establishment of new rehabilitation services and travel mitigations.
SDSAF has written to West Kent CCG to ask for more details of the ‘travel mitigations’ which are referred to in Ms Jones’ letter, as it is acknowledged by everyone that the journey to both hospitals, especially for those without a car, is far from easy.
SDSAF will circulate more information about these services when we receive them.
If you have any questions about the changes planned for next year please do not hesitate to email them to comms@sdsaf.org.uk and we will try to seek answers to them.