Stroke treatment teams share best practice ideas

Members of the multidisciplinary stroke teams across Hywel Dda Health Board have shared their methods to improve patient care at a national conference.
Six posters from Bronglais Hospital and one each from Withybush Hospital and Prince Philip Hospital were displayed at the Welsh Stroke Conference, with one on patient centred goal planning from the Bronglais Hospital multidisciplinary team being chosen for an official presentation.
The patient centred goal planning process has seen a 100 per cent of stroke patients stating they now know about their personal goals compared to just 30 per cent before the changes were implemented.
Hywel Dda Health Board has pledged to help prevent 125 people a year suffering a stroke over the next five years.
Within the health board 50 people a month are admitted to our hospitals after suffering a stroke.
Of these one will die as a result of their stroke and only around 50% will be discharged back to their usual place of residence.
The health board provides emergency thrombolysis treatment at Bronglais, Glangwili, Prince Philip and Withybush Hospitals. Approximately 85% of strokes are due to the blockage of an artery in the brain caused by a blood clot.
Thrombolysis is one of the most promising treatments if provided quickly and can restore the blood-flow to the brain, helping to reduce lasting disabilities.
Time is of the essence as evidence suggests the quicker the drug is given after onset of symptoms, the higher the chance of functional improvement and the lower the risk of complications.

You can recognise a stroke using the FAST test:
FACIAL weakness: Can the person smile? Has their mouth or eye drooped?
ARM weakness: Can the person raise both arms?
SPEECH problems: Can the person speak clearly and understand what you say?
TIME to call 999

For more information on how you can prevent a stroke go to www.stroke.org.uk

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