PEOPLE are being urged to have their say on the future of stroke services after being given more time to respond to a consultation.
Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) across the area have extended the deadline until Sunday February 2.
The proposals would see patients from across the area being sent to University Hospital Coventry (UHCW) for immediate treatment, with the majority then receiving care at home.
The 12 ‘acute’ emergency stroke beds at Warwick Hospital, and 18 beds at Nuneaton’s George Eliot Hospital would be removed and patients instead sent to UHCW.
The Coventry hospital would have its acute beds increased from 30 to 31, and ‘hyper acute’ beds doubled to 12.
After around three days the majority of patients are ready to leave emergency care, but under new plans this will mostly be carried out in the community.
Rugby St Cross would lose its six community rehabilitation beds while Leamington Rehabilitation Hospital would see an increase of one, taking its total to 21.
George Eliot would have ten rehabilitation beds. It previously had none.
People from across Coventry and Warwickshire could be sent to stay in any of the beds depending on availability.
CCG spokesman Adrian Stokes said: “We want to change services so that everybody who needs it has access to the best possible acute care if they have a stroke and then to the rehabilitation they need to recover and live as well as possible.
“We’re really grateful to everyone who has responded already, but this consultation is the chance for patients, carers, stroke survivors and the wider public to share their views on our proposals for improving stroke services in Coventry and Warwickshire, and we want to hear from as many as possible. Please do get involved if you haven’t already.”
A number of drop-in sessions are being held and will include the chance to talk to doctors about the proposed changes.
They will be held on Monday January 6 at Townsend Hall on Sheep Street in Shipston between 10am to noon. Later that day sessions will take place at Benn Partnership Trust on Railway Terrace in Rugby between 3pm to 5pm and 6pm to 8pm.
Sessions will also be held on Wednesday January 8 at the Sydni Centre in Leamington between 10am and noon, and on Thursday January 9 at Foundation House in Stratford.
Visit www.strokecovwarks.nhs.uk/Home to fill out a questionnaire online or find out more.
