Stroke - next steps
NHS Somerset is committed to understanding the needs of the local population. This is to ensure we can continue to deliver the best possible healthcare services in Somerset.
On 25 January 2024, NHS Somerset Board approved changes to emergency stroke services in Somerset.
The changes agreed will not take place overnight, but will be phased over the coming 18 months. The implementation process will make sure that the services needed will be ready to go before emergency stroke services at Yeovil move.
This will mean:
- a single Hyper Acute Stroke Unit (where you receive emergency stroke care for up to 72 hours) at Musgrove Park in Taunton, providing 24/7 emergency treatment.
- acute stoke units at both Musgrove Park in Taunton and Yeovil District Hospital.
The plans, developed by clinicians, people working in stroke services, key stakeholders and people with lived experience of stroke, will mean changes to:
- Hyper acute stroke services, with the establishment of a single Hyper Acute Stroke Unit at Musgrove Park in Taunton, providing 24/7 emergency treatment. Research shows that more people survive stroke and are able to live independently when specialised stroke services are located in one place.
- Ongoing hospital treatment, with acute stroke units at both Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton and Yeovil District Hospital, Yeovil. Maintaining two acute stroke units would mean that following their emergency stroke treatment, patients could move to Yeovil District Hospital if this was closer to where they live.
- Patients would be taken to their nearest hyper acute stroke unit. This could be out of Somerset if it was closer such as Dorset County Hospital, Dorchester.
How will the changes be managed?
Changes will not happen overnight, but will be phased over the next 18 months. We will continue to update staff, stakeholders and local people on our progress.
At the Board meeting in January 2024, the NHS Somerset Board requested that the finance committee review the financial case in terms of maximising value for money for the investment and seeking assurance around the affordability of the capital case. The finance committee paper will come back to the next board meeting, in March 2024.
Implementation is planned to take place over an 18-month timescale. Coordination between Somerset Foundation Trust and Dorset County Hospital, along with South Western Ambulance Service (SWASFT) is key to enable successful implementation and will be key to the detailed implementation planning following a decision.
Governance for implementation will be the responsibility of Somerset NHS Foundation Trust and Dorset County Hospital.
A joint implementation group will be established (Joint Stroke Co-ordination Board (Somerset and Dorset)) to cover timing and communication of implementation, equity of access and pathways which work across both organisations. NHS Somerset will be a member of this group as involved assurance.
More details on implementation of the changes can be found in section 14 of the decision-making business case.
When will the changes take place?
The changes agreed will not take place overnight, but will be phased over the coming 18 months. The implementation process will make sure that the services needed will be ready to go before emergency stroke services at Yeovil move.
We will continue to work with stroke staff and people with lived experience in the implementation phase.
