Stroke patients will get faster access to life-saving drugs thanks to new equipment which allows clinicians to diagnose remotely.
The Assembly Government will today announce £350,000 will be invested in telemedicine equipment to ensure stroke patients get faster access to clot-busting drugs.
The equipment will allow clinicians, who may be based in another part of Wales, to diagnose a stroke based on a visual assessment of the patient.
They will be able to make a prompt decision about whether the patient is eligible to receive thrombolysis treatment by examining the results of the patient’s CT scan.
Thrombolysis can make a drastic difference to a patient’s recovery following a stroke, but they must be assessed within three hours to determine whether they are suitable for the procedure.
The portable telemedicine units will allow health professionals to interview patients and relatives while simultaneously reading test results and scans to help them decide on treatment.
Announcing the investment, Health Minister Edwina Hart, pictured above, said: “Stroke can have a devastating impact on individuals and their families.
“This investment in new equipment will reduce the need for patients to travel to receive the best treatment.
“By speeding up access to clot-busting drugs in all parts of Wales, we will reduce the consequences of a stroke. This should allow patients to recover quicker and improve quality of life.”
Dr Anne Freeman, the Assembly Government’s clinical lead for stroke, said: “We are delighted and welcome the minister’s decision to fund telemedicine for acute stroke services in Wales.
“This will support the clinical assessment of patients, including the delivery of thrombolysis, the clot-busting drug, and other essential elements of acute stroke care.
“It will ensure the more rural areas of Wales will also benefit. It will enable the Welsh stroke development programme to take another important step forward towards achieving a world-class service.”
The telemedicine equipment will be installed in A&E and radiology departments across Wales in a phased programme.
The aim is for all of the hospitals to be linked to an on-call consultant rota offering 24-hour access to diagnosis and treatment.
Wales Online