MORE support continues to flood in for The Star’s Save Our Stroke Care campaign – launched after we uncovered controversial proposals for the future of stroke care in the region.
An East Anglian stroke review is currently under way to create several centres of excellence, Hyper Acute Stroke Units (HASU).
As part of the process an Expert External Advisory Group is understood to have suggested three options for the county:
• HASUs, providing emergency treatment, at Addenbrooke’s and Colchester with acute services, for rehabilitation, at Ipswich and West Suffolk.
• A HASU at Ipswich with acute services at Colchester and West Suffolk.
• HASUs at Ipswich and Colchester with an acute service at West Suffolk.
The first option would leave patients in Ipswich and east Suffolk having to be taken by ambulance to Addenbrooke’s in Cambridge or Colchester for potentially life-saving treatment.
But patients and concerned readers have reacted with shock and anger – joining the fight to “make health bosses see sense” and create a HASU at Ipswich Hospital.
Brian Godbold, of Ascot Drive, Ipswich, said: “The crass idea of joyriding stroke patients beyond Suffolk before treatment is a deeply disturbing development.
“I am extremely perturbed to discover this horror story and I feel a reasonable response is to recommend the removal of personnel who contribute to this warped thinking.
“Come on sleepy Suffolk, let’s wake up to this grave danger.”
Mother and daughter Peggy and Sue Doe contacted The Star after their husband and father received treatment at the hospital’s stroke service.
They said: “We are very unhappy that emergency stroke care might be moved from Ipswich. The treatment given at Ipswich Hospital is fantastic and if people have to travel it could be disastrous.”
They urged people to sign the petition, adding: “Please do all you can so that we can have a HASU at Ipswich Hospital and no stroke victims have to travel to get treatment.”
Have you been treated at the hospital’s stroke service? Write to health reporter Lizzie Parry at Ipswich Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or email lizzie.parry@archant.co.uk
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