The lives of more than 400 Londoners were saved by the creation of eight spec-ialist hospital units for emergency stroke treatment, a study revealed today.
Researchers said the “hyper-acute stroke units” reduced death rates by 12 per cent and saved £5.6 million a year because of shorter hospital stays.
The unit sites include UCLH, Charing Cross — where broadcaster Andrew Marr was treated — and St George’s.
The study, by UCL Partners, is the first to reveal the effect of removing stroke care from 30 London hospitals three years ago and re-focusing it on the eight units. London’s stroke survival rates are now the best in Britain.
The capital’s health chiefs said they hope to adopt the principle to improve care in maternity and A&E wards.
Dr Charlie Davie, UCL Partners’ director of neuroscience, said today: “This is one of the great NHS success stories.”
More than 250 people have asked the Independent Review Panel to rethink the proposed closures of Charing Cross and Hammersmith hospitals’ A&E units. The panel will present its report to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt by September 13.
