STROKES are being prevented and lives saved thanks to better early care for high risk patients.

A drive to make sure more vulnerable patients are prescribed anti-coagulant medication before they suffer a stroke has reduced their risk of dying or suffering permanent disability new figures suggest.

The latest data shows that 22 fewer people were admitted to the stroke unit at Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester in 2016/17 than the previous year which stroke experts say is evidence early intervention is working.

NHS South Worcestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has been monitoring emergency stroke admissions.

There were 638 stroke admissions in 2016/17 compared to 660 in 2015/16 in south Worcestershire.

Called the Atrial Fibrillation (AF) Stroke Prevention initiative, the extra support for these high risk people was introduced fully during 2015/16.

Atrial fibrillation is an irregular heartbeat which can make patients more prone to the debilitating brain attack.

The condition affects at least 10 per cent of 65 years plus age group and increases the risk of a stroke by 500 per cent due to large heart blood clots which can dislodge and cause a profound and disabling stroke.

However, the condition can be treated with both warfarin and the newer novel anticoagulants are very effective if taken appropriately.

The GP led initiative has resulted in more AF patients being identified and an additional 1,300 people with AF prioritised for anticoagulation treatment which reduces strokes in this high risk group by around 70 per cent.

Experts say it is possible that the scheme may reduce the number of AF strokes by 40 this year as the work continues to bear fruit.

Brendan Young, patient voice on Worcestershire Stroke Strategy Forum and patient advocate on the West Midlands AF Advisory Group, updated Health Watch at their last meeting about the improvements.

He said: “One in five of us will have a stroke one day unless we learn to look after ourselves better.

"The good news however, is that the vast majority of strokes can be prevented by improving our lifestyles, stopping smoking and taking our prescribed medicines."

Mr Young and Dr Carl Ellson, strategic clinical lead for the Worcestershire CCGs, provided evidence of improving patient care against the backdrop of a shortage of stroke physicians at Worcester's stroke unit and acknowledged the early success of centralising stroke rehabilitation at Evesham.

Similar schemes have now been adopted in

Dr Ellson noted that both Wyre Forest CCG and Redditch and Bromsgrove CCG have adopted similar schemes, preventing a projected 30 AF strokes.

Dr Carl Ellson, also the CCG clinical stroke lead, said: “Fortunately the majority of strokes can be prevented by the early diagnosis and treatment of high blood pressure, and by diagnosing and appropriately treating Atrial Fibrillation.

"It is really pleasing to see that we are continuing to reduce the number of strokes in Worcestershire and I am confident that we will see this positive trend continue.”