IT is essential that an emergency stroke centre is established at Ipswich Hospital.

That is the view of leader of Ipswich Borough Council, David Ellesmere as he gives his support to The Star’s Save Our Stroke Care campaign.

It comes after Ipswich MP Ben Gummer and Central Suffolk and North Ipswich MP and health minister Dr Dan Poulter, gave their backing, calling for health bosses to see sense and create a hyper acute stroke unit (HASU) at the hospital.

The Save Our Stroke Care campaign was launched after The Star uncovered controversial plans to reorganise stroke care in the region.

A review, which was launched last July, is considering where to create several specialist centres of excellence, HASUs across East Anglia.

One of the options for Suffolk could result in patients having to travel to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge or Colchester Hospital for emergency care.

An Expert External Advisory Group is expected to recommend three options for the future of care in the county:

n HASUs, providng emergency treatment, at Addenbrooke’s and Colchester with acute services, for rehabilitation, at Ipswich and West Suffolk

n A HASU at Ipswich with acute services at Colchester and West Suffolk

n HASUs at Ipswich and Colchester with an acute service at West Suffolk

Mr Ellesmere, who will stand against Mr Gummer as the Labour candidate at the next election, told The Star: “It is essential that strokes are treated as quickly as possible.

“Given the ongoing problems with our ambulance service I don’t have sufficient confidence that treatment would be available in a timely manner if it was provided at Colchester or Addenbrooke’s.

“It is therefore essential that the HASU is located at Ipswich Hospital.”

The Ipswich and East Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and the West Suffolk CCG – who took over from NHS Suffolk at the start of the month – are yet to make a decision.

Ipswich Hospital and West Suffolk Hospital will have to present their cases, providing evidence they can meet the requirements set to become a HASU, before any decision can be taken.