Unique stroke bay saves lives at Addenbrooke’s |
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Patient Eleanor King with Clinical Service Manager Jan Kennedy A unique monitoring bay for acute stroke patients is saving lives at Addenbrooke’s Hospital – and giving them the best possible chance of a good recovery. In the 18 months since it opened, the Herbert Robinson Acute Stroke Bay has provided intensive care in the crucial few hours after stroke. “Time is of the essence for these patients,” explains Jan Kennedy, Clinical Service Manager. “Providing this specialist care within the first few hours after stroke helps us to save areas of the brain which are vulnerable and so minimise long-term disability and dependence. The earlier people get to us, the better the outcome.” Figures have also shown that since the bay opened, there has been an approximate 2% reduction in inpatient mortality rates. When patients are first brought to the emergency department at Addenbrooke’s, they are met by a senior stroke nurse and often a specialist registrar, who assess them. They have access to CT and other scans, and the expertise of a consultant in stroke. Patients are then brought to the Herbert Robinson Acute Stroke Bay, where they can be monitored for 48 hours before being moved to the stroke unit or elsewhere in the hospital. The monitoring they receive assists the stroke team in identifying what caused the stroke and helps prevent secondary stroke and other complications, ultimately improving patients’ outcomes. “Another benefit of the bay is that 30% more patients have been admitted to the stroke unit,” says Jan. “Before, patients may have gone on to another ward until a bed became available on the stroke unit. Here, it’s all about getting the right patient in the right bed at the right time. “Patients’ average length of stay has also reduced by three days, which is good for patients wanting to get home quickly and good for the hospital.” The bay makes the hospital’s Lewin Stroke and Rehabilitation Unit one of the most advanced in the UK for stroke care. “There is no other nursing set-up and intense monitoring for stroke patients in the country,” says Jan.
Herbert Robinson Generous donations following the death of Herbert Robinson, a patient who was cared for in the unit, have meant that the bay could be opened sooner than planned, giving patients maximum benefit from its facilities. Mr Robinson had strong links with Addenbrooke’s, as he was one of the hospital’s chief legal advisers until his death in May 2004. The bay was named the Herbert Robinson Acute Stroke Bay as a mark of thanks and respect. Mills & Reeve, the law firm Herbert Robinson worked for, have recently generously donated an extra £9,600 towards the running of the bay, raised by staff taking part in the Three Peaks Challenge. Speaking about the donation, Jan said: “We are extremely grateful to Mills & Reeve for the very generous donation. The money will be used to provide mobile monitoring for younger stroke patients who may want to walk around and still be monitored rather than be kept in bed. This will undoubtedly improve the patient experience.” Notes to editors (Source: The Stroke Association) For further information, please contact Emma Oram, Press Officer |
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