Calls for review into stroke unit closure

Patient representatives say justification for the closure "has collapsed"

The justifications for closing a hyper-acute stroke unit have collapsed and an urgent review is needed, claim patients and a doctor.

Patient representatives from eight Somerset GP surgeries say since the decision to close Yeovil Hospital's unit was announced in January, circumstances have changed.

In an open letter to NHS Somerset's Integrated Care Board (ICB), stroke consultant Dr Khalid Rashed listed reasons why the closure should not go ahead.

The ICB said it has offered to meet with patient representatives to discuss the letter.

A spokesperson for NHS Somerset said the changes to stroke patients' care will lead to "better emergency treatment, resulting in fewer deaths and better recovery for stroke patients".

Under the current plans, the most urgent stroke patients will be transported to either Dorchester or Taunton for treatment.

Boost in staff numbers

The patient groups are from medical centres in Yeovil, Crewkerne, Martock, Sherborne and Somerton.

In the open letter, Dr Rashed argued that the unit now has a safe number of specialist staffing and he is confident it could run seven days a week.

One of the major reasons for shutting the unit was due to a lack of staffing.

He argued that having more specialists in place would improve the unit's performance targets, which was another factor for closing the site.

MP Adam Dance has long objected to the closure of the hyper-acute stroke unit

Adam Dance, MP for Yeovil, said he was "proud to support the open letter".

"Recent developments, including successful recruitment at Yeovil Hospital and the findings from Dr Rashed's letter, prove that the initial justification for the closure no longer holds," he added.

In August, Mr Dance expressed concern over the decision in his first official letter to the Labour government.

Somerset Council councillor Steve Ashton added: "Paying Dorchester Hospital to service Somerset stroke victims makes no financial sense now the HASU at Yeovil is up to strength in staff numbers".

A spokesperson for NHS Somerset said that a "considerable amount of work has gone into this programme, including hugely valuable input from clinicians, staff, stroke survivors and their loved ones".