The first patient to use the new state-of-the-art specialist stroke unit at Heartlands Hospital has praised the new service.
Margaret Worrall, from Bordesley Green, was the first patient to make use of Heartlands Hyper Acute Stroke Unit (HASU), which opened on 30 October 2014.
The 76 year old who lives with husband Charles and has three grand-children, had been treated at Heartlands for a first stroke in March this year and was pleased to be treated on the purpose built new unit when she was rushed to the Hospital with a second stroke within days of it opening.
Margaret is now up and about, walking on her own with the assistance of a walking frame. She said: “I felt normal when I woke up, got out of bed, I was a bit wobbly when I got to the bathroom and then my legs buckled under me. I knew what had happened from last time I had a stroke. Mt grand-daughter called the ambulance and I went straight to A&E and was given thrombolysis then went up to the unit. I saw the news coverage about the new unit but didn’t know I would be a patient on it.
“I was on ward 20 when I came to Heartlands with my first stroke but it’s great to come on the new unit this time where all the specialist staff and facilities are in one place. It’s a pleasure coming into a place like this, the first impression is that it is a modern place and that gives you confidence. I felt honoured and proud to be the first patient on the unit.”
Peter Carr, stroke lead nurse, said: “Margaret had all the signs and symptoms of a significant stroke on admission. An early response is extremely important for patients showing signs of a stroke to improve their chances of recovery. Margaret was seen, assessed, investigated, given clot busting medicine – if a stroke is caused by a blood clot, it may be treated in this way to disperse the clot and return blood flow to the brain, and on the ward after half an hour and thankfully has shown quite a significant recovery.
“This is the purpose of what we do as a stroke team as a whole – rapid assessment, rapid treatment and high level hyper stroke acute care – and Margaret has benefited from that.
“Margaret is very special as our first patient on the unit, but what is really special is that she sees an improvement in the treatment and care she has received this time in comparison to her previous admission.”
The Hyper Acute Stroke Unit (HASU) was opened by Hospital chairman, deputy medical director (strategy and transformation) Professor Matthew Cooke and Birmingham City FC honorary vice president Mike Wiseman. The HASU has been designed to provide specialist care in the first 72 hours after a stroke to improve patient care and save lives.
