Health care professionals highlight need for life-changing stroke treatment in Northern Ireland

More than 150 stroke professionals from across Northern Ireland came together on Thursday 25 September to share insights on improving treatments for stroke patients at the Northern Ireland Stroke Professionals Conference.

Hosted by the Stroke Association, the annual conference - now in its second year, brings together specialist doctors, nurses, neurorehabilitation therapists and other specialists in stroke care across NI for the event, which was at the Crowne Plaza in Belfast.

It was supported by the Northern Ireland Multidisciplinary Association of Stroke Teams (NIMAST), a charitable organisation which brings together professionals from health and social care, the voluntary sector, education and research with an interest in stroke care.

At this year’s conference, the stroke community highlighted the importance of making progress to delivering evidence based stroke care and emphasising the urgent need for a 24/7 thrombectomy service in Northern Ireland.  Thrombectomy is a game-changing treatment which removes the blood clot after someone has a stroke. It is one of the most effective treatments in modern medicine both in terms of patient outcomes and cost effectiveness. 1.9 million brain cells are lost every minute after a stroke, making it a very time sensitive procedure. The quicker someone has a thrombectomy, the better chance they have of making a good recovery as it can save brain function, reduce disability, and ultimately change the lives of stroke survivors.

Yet around 100 patients each year in Northern Ireland are missing out on this treatment as it currently available only available between 8am and 6pm. Anyone admitted to hospital outside these hours has to wait until the following morning – which can make a huge difference to the long-term impact of their stroke. So, the Stroke Association NI is supporting national stroke leaders and campaigning to improve access to thrombectomy to help more stroke survivors make a good recovery.

Clodagh Dunlop MBE, from Magherafelt in Co. Londonderry had a brain stem stroke in 2015 which initially left her with locked-in syndrome. She was completely paralysed and she was only able to communicate by using her eyes.

She said: “I had a thrombectomy which saved my life, but as my stroke was out of hours, I now live with significant physical disabilities due to thrombectomy only being available 8am-6pm in Northern Ireland. Timely intervention with thrombectomy saves lives and prevents disabilities.”

Professor Deb Lowe, Medical Director of the Stroke Association, and consultant stroke physician in Liverpool, gave a talk at the conference and highlighted the importance of thrombectomy access. She said: “When I visit Northern Ireland and meet with the healthcare professionals, I am always so impressed by their ambition to improve stroke care.

“Thrombectomy is a hugely powerful treatment yet so many stroke survivors keep missing out on it. The clear message from the conference is that the Executive needs to support stroke clinicians with the funding and leadership to make a thrombectomy service available 24/7. Rapid progress is being made across the rest of the UK and Ireland so Northern Ireland cannot be left behind.”

Alasdair O’Hara, Northern Ireland Director at the Stroke Association, said:” It is great to see the stroke community come together in Belfast to share learning that will help improve stroke services across NI. It's been heartening to see the dedication of stroke professionals to improving services against the backdrop of significant financial pressures impacting the delivery of Northern Ireland's Stroke Action Plan.”

Dr Patricia Gordon, Chair of NIMAST, said: “It is a wonderful opportunity for learning, collaboration and listening to the patients' prospective. It is a privilege to be part of a community of such dedicated and hardworking professionals, and this conference demonstrates the amazing work that is being delivered every day.”

The Stroke Association supports stroke survivors and their families by phone, at home, and in the community. Find out more at http://stroke.org.uk/northern-ireland