A NEW stroke unit has reduced the amount of time patients are spending in hospital.

The county’s new specialist Stroke Rehabilitation Unit in Evesham has enabled the average patient to return home within a month compared to the previous average time of six weeks.

In April 2017 Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, working with local commissioners, consolidated the county’s 32 specialist stroke rehabilitation beds in Evesham Community Hospital.

Before that there were 16 stroke rehab beds at Evesham, 8 in the Princess of Wales Community Hospital in Bromsgrove, and the other 8 at the Timberdine Community Unit in Worcester.

Having the service spread across three sites had made securing the expert consultant cover required to run the service more difficult, leaving it increasingly fragile according to health chiefs.

Dr Andy Sant, Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust’s medical director, said: “The decision to consolidate the stroke rehab beds in Evesham Community Hospital has improved the service we are able to provide to people recovering from a serious stroke.

"Having our expert staff on one site means patients can access the best level of care and treatment possible and the results since all the beds moved to Evesham have been really encouraging.

"The time someone has to spend in hospital is reducing and the feedback we’re getting from patients, their families/carers and the staff on the unit is very positive.

"It is clear the decision is strengthening the specialist stroke rehabilitation service we are able to offer people across Worcestershire.”

The new unit at Evesham is managed by stroke specialists and consultants and supported by representatives from the Worcestershire Carers Association and the Stroke Association.

Health chiefs say that the decision to consolidate the specialist stroke rehab resources in Evesham Community Hospital is further confirmation of the trust’s commitment to the role the hospital will play in the future delivery of care.