Community groups to protest closure of Yeovil's hyper-acute stroke unit
They're planning to gather outside a public meeting with NHS bosses
Protesters from local community groups in Yeovil are expected to lobby outside a public meeting with NHS bosses, who will discuss the closure of the town’s hyper-acute stroke unit (HASU).
Last month NHS Somerset voted to close the unit and move the emergency service to a single unit in Taunton for specialised services.
The acute stroke unit (the care people receive after the first 72 hours of care) will stay in Yeovil.
The controversial plans have come under fire from local groups, and 9,000 people have signed a petition against the idea.
The Quicksilver Community Group have formally requested the Health Secretary Victoria Atkins MP, to “call-in and review” the plans.
They say closing the Yeovil HASU will lead to a significant number of future stroke patients in the south and east of Somerset receiving inferior care, compared to patients living closer to Musgrove Park.
John Falconer, speaking for nine GP patient groups, said:
“If you live in Yeovil, in east or south Somerset or north Dorset and you or your friends or family suffer a stroke, you would today be taken to Yeovil Hospital for emergency or ‘Hyper Acute’ treatment.
“But once the Yeovil emergency stroke unit is closed, you will be taken to either Taunton Hospital (Musgrove Park), Dorset County Hospital (Dorchester), Royal United Hospital Bath or Salisbury hospital.
“The journey time to reach each of the hospitals, by ambulance, will depend on exactly where you live and which hospital you are taken to.
“This could be between 30 minutes and 90 minutes longer than if you were taken to Yeovil Hospital.”
But NHS bosses say patients in Somerset will get a higher standard of care at the new site in Taunton, providing improved care with less variation in standard.
Dr Bernie Marsden, Chief Medical Officer, at NHS Somerset said: “There was recognition from people who responded to the consultation that there was a need to change how stroke services in Somerset are organised.
“Currently, access to the best standards of care varies depending on where you live and the time of day you have a stroke.
“We want to eliminate that variation and ensure that the very best specialist emergency care is available, 24/7.
“It is important that we provide high-quality 24/7 stroke services which are safe and sustainable.
“This is why we are proposing to change the way acute hospital stroke services are organised in Somerset, so everyone in county will have the best opportunity to survive and thrive after stroke.”
On Friday (1st March), NHS Somerset and hospital managers are holding a public meeting to “discuss planned changes to emergency stroke services” at 2.00pm at Westlands Entertainments Venue.