Stroke patients in Sheffield can now receive rehabilitative support, 24 hours a day, at a critical point in their recovery, thanks to the opening of a new specialist unit.
The Stroke Pathway Assessment and Rehabilitation Centre at Norfolk Park, which is run by Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, was officially opened by Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock, MP, who is pictured here with patient Jean Fewster.
There are 30 beds there and it is the culmination of a three-year programme to further improve stroke services in the city. It is staffed by a dedicated team of nurses and support workers.
Kirsten Major, Interim Chief Executive for Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “I am incredibly proud of what our team have achieved in bringing this new facility to Sheffield. We are bringing together a range of healthcare professionals, including GPs, physiotherapists, dietitians, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and rehabilitation nurses, to ensure stroke survivors get the right treatment at the right point in their recovery.”
A stroke occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery or a blood vessel ruptures or bleeds, which causes irreversible damage to the brain. The faster you recognise a stroke and react to it, the more of the brain and the person you can save. For more details of how to recognise the signs and symptoms of a stroke and what action to take visit the NHS website.