A CENTRE of excellence for stroke patients could be up and running in Worcester within six months, dramatically improving their chances or survival.

NHS leaders defended the recommendation to centralise stroke services at Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester despite concerns from some councillors about the loss of the service at the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch.

Stroke care came under the microscope at a meeting of the county watchdog, the health overview and scrutiny committee (HOSC), at County Hall, following a review into the service by GPs, patient champions and external advisers.

There are now 42 acute stroke beds across both sites but a centralised service could mean between 26 to 28 stroke beds at the Worcester hospital.

Bosses believe they could reduce the overall number of stroke beds from 42 if they had a 24 hour, seven day-a-week service at one site rather than a Monday to Friday service across both sites.

They also say a single stroke centre would make it easier for them to recruit and retain specialist staff.

Jonathan Lofthouse, director of emergency care at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “What is absolutely clear is where individual organisations are centralising their stroke provision and creating centres of excellence they increase quality of patient care for stroke patients exponentially.”

The urgency of the review into stroke services was prompted by data showing the improvement in outcomes for stroke patients in London following the centralisation of services there.

In a year there about 800 strokes in Worcestershire – 500 people seen at Worcester, 300 at Redditch.

A Worcester-centered service would mean the greatest number of county patients arriving at an acute stroke unit within 45 minutes of a stroke, say experts and would also link in best with vascular services already based at the Royal.

Health bosses have already said that a centralised service in Worcester could save up to 44 lives a year and reduce the number of people who suffer long-term disability.

The recommendation will now go before NHS leaders who could formally adopt the plans at their next meeting on Tuesday.

However, a detailed implementation plan has not yet been drawn up. HOSC said there did not need to be a public consultation on the plans for centralising the service. Patient representatives were involved in the initial review.