Review of acute stroke services in Huntingdonshire

This consultation is now closed 

Have your say on acute stroke services in Huntingdonshire

NHS Cambridgeshire sought people's views on the future of hyperacute and acute stroke services in Huntingdonshire. Hyperacute (the first 72 hours after stroke) and acute stroke services is the care that a patient receives in hospital immediately after a stroke, until they are ready to be discharged from hospital or referred on for rehabilitation.

Stroke is the third largest cause of death in England, after heart disease and cancer. The brain damage that can be caused by strokes means that they are the largest cause of adult disability in the UK. Strokes can be prevented and treated successfully, and the way stroke is treated has changed considerably over the past few years.

The proposed changes would affect stroke patients and their families in Huntingdonshire, who would expect to receive their care from Hinchingbrooke Hospital. NHS Cambridgeshire consulted on these proposals from 12 September - 5 December 2011. Following this consultation, the NHS Cambridgeshire and NHS Peterborough Board will make a decision on the proposals at the end of January 2012.

At present, stroke care is provided at Hinchingbrooke Hospital, except those patients who may be eligible to receive clot busting (thrombolysis) drugs who are taken directly to either Addenbrooke's or Peterborough hospitals by ambulance, where specialist stroke teams able to administer these drugs are already in place.

NHS Cambridgeshie is proposing three options for change, however our preferred option is for all suspected stroke patients to be taken to Addenbrooke's or Peterborough hospitals for their hyperacute care (normally up to three days after a stroke), and when clinically appropriate to be taken to Hinchingbrooke for acute care and rehabilitation (normally three to seven days after a stroke).

Why do we need to change?

it is now recognised that the first hours after a stroke are very important in determining a patient's outcome and reducing the risk of death and disability. The care Hinchingbrooke provides to stroke patients is of a high standard, however in the light of considerable changes to the national approach to managing stroke in recent years, tha National Stroke Strategy for England has set out the need for considerable changes in the way services for people with a stroke are delivered. 

Modern stroke care requires fast access to specialist physicians and diagnostic equipment 24 hours a day. This is currently not possible at Hinchingbrooke and being a small district hospital, there is not a large enough number of stroke patients to make this viable and to ensure the specialist skills of staff required to treat the early hyperacute phase of stroke. NHS Cambridgshire wants to utilise resources available at local Trusts, to ensure the best possible outcomes for all patients. This means focussing the immediate diagnosis and treatment of strokes at the specialist units at Addenbrooke's and Peterborough hospitals, whilst continuing to utilise the resources and staff at Hinchingbrooke Hospital for stroke care following this initial period.

NHS Cambridgeshire has been reviewing hyperacute and acute stroke services, and is consulting on three options for change to these services. These are:

• Option 1 - That all suspected stroke patients are taken to Addenbrooke's or Peterborough hospitals for their hyperacute care (this is normally up to three days after a stroke), and when clinically appropriate to be taken to Hinchingbroooke for acute care and rehabilitation (normally three to seven days after a stroke). This is NHS Cambridgeshire's preferred option.

• Option 2 - That all suspected stroke patients are taken to Addenbrooke's or Peterborough hospitals for their hyperacute and acute care (normally up to seven days after a stroke), and when clinically appropriate are taken to Hinchingbrooke for their rehabilitation.
• Option 3 - That all suspected stroke patients are transferred to Addenbrooke's or Peterborough hospitals for all their hospital care.

Outcome of consultation

NHS Cambridgeshire's Board considred the outcome of the consultation at their meeting on 25 January 2012. A copy of the consultation report can be found in the list of documents in the 'related downloads' section below.

The Board has endorsed the recommendation for reconfiguring acute stroke services in Huntingdonshire according to Option 1. NHS Cambridgeshire will now implement the plans, which will see all suspected stroke patients in the Huntingdonshire catchment area taken to Addenbrooke's hospital in Cambridge, or Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals in Peterborough for their hyperacute care (normally up to three days after a stroke). When clinically appropriate patients will then be taken to Hinchingbrooke hospital for their acute care and rehabilitation (normally three to seven days after a stroke).

We thank everyone who worked with NHS Cambridgeshire to develop the proposed options for change, and everyone who participated in the public consultation.