Yeovil Nurse Consultant Wins Award With Aim Of Improving Stroke Services Across The South West, UK

Main Category: Stroke
Article Date: 15 Aug 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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A nurse consultant from Yeovil District Hospital has teamed up with the Stroke Association to win an award which she hopes will lead to improved services for stroke patients across the South West.

Caroline Lawson is one of two nurse consultants at Yeovil District Hospital and one of just 20 nurse consultants in the country who specialise in stroke services. She teamed up with Alan Bartle, the regional manager for the Stroke Association, to make a bid for funding from the Nuffield Trust Joint International Study Award which encourages innovation in health care and changes in practice. Out of the hundreds who applied Caroline and Alan were successful in getting funding for a week's investigation into stroke services in Finland.

Caroline said: "My research had revealed that stroke services in Finland cost less than in England yet patients have a better outcome. I wanted to find out why this was and if we could learn from their success and use their methods here."

Caroline and Alan are off to Finland in November to meet up with one of the country's leading stroke physicians in Helsinki.

Caroline said: "We will look at stroke services provided both in the acute and community hospitals across Finland and speak to clinicians, patients and their carers to gain their views. We want to bring their good practice back not just to Yeovil, but to patients across the south west. Both Somerset Primary Care Trust and NHS South West have shown an interest in our visit."

The visit comes at a time when stroke services are being given a high priority in the south west. The National Stroke Strategy has a ten year timeline yet the Chief Executive of NHS South West, Sir Ian Carruthers OBE has challenged NHS providers in his area to achieve the ambitions set out in the strategy in three years.

Sir Ian said: "In the South West we are committed to delivering health and healthcare that surpasses not only national targets but which consistently ranks alongside the very best in Europe. I am delighted that a clinician from Yeovil District Hospital has won an award which presents an opportunity for stroke patients across the region, and possibly nationally, to benefit from her research in Finland. I look forward to receiving feedback from the study."

As part of the NHS South West work around the implementation of the National Stroke Strategy Yeovil District Hospital's service was reviewed by a team led by the national clinical lead for the NHS Stroke Improvement Programme. The review was very positive with the report saying: "An excellent service which shows what a general district hospital of this size can achieve in providing a patient centred service across the pathway."

Caroline, who was formerly matron for stroke services at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, said: "A lot can now be done to minimise the impact of a stroke. A rapid referral to hospital is vital to ensure patients get the appropriate treatment. We want to raise greater awareness of the FAST test and recognition of the symptoms of a stroke."

The test can be carried out by anyone who is with a person at the time they take ill with a suspected stroke. They should look at their Face to see is their smile is symmetrical; get them to lift their Arms to check they have full mobility; listen to their Speech to check it is normal and then ensure they are taken to hospital in a Timely manner.

Yeovil District Hospital

Stroke Association

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