THE North-East NHS is one of the top performing services in England for getting stroke patients to a specialist unit within the critical four-hour period, according to new figures.

Statistics published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre show that the southern half of the North-East did particularly well during 2013-14 in terms of admitting stroke patients to specialist stroke units within four hours of arrival at hospital.

In most of the sub-region, the percentage of stroke patients being admitted to a stroke unit within four hours is in the high 70s and low 80s per cent – way ahead of the average for England of 59.9 per cent

It is vital to ensure that a stroke patient is admitted to a specialist stroke unit within four hours.

This increases the chance that medical teams can prevent long-term damage and allows more patients to be brain scanned to see if they are suitable for clot-busting drugs.

Hartlepool and Stockton, where 82.5 per cent of patients were transferred to a stroke unit within four hours, out-performed every other area in the country apart from Hillingdon in London

South Tees also did well, with 80 per cent of stroke patients being admitted within the four hour target.

In Durham Dales, Easington and Sedgefield 78.5 per cent were admitted within the target time.

Darlington and North Durham also recorded a high score of 77.7 per cent .

Northumberland (79.1 per cent) was the highest scoring area in the northern half of the region with most other areas scoring in the mid to low 70s.

In North Yorkshire, Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby were top performers with 79.3 per cent admitted within four hours.

Consultant physician Dr Helen Skinner who is the lead consultant for stroke services at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust said: “We have reorganised our service so patients with suspected stroke are taken straight to CT scanning rather than accident and emergency. This means we can identify appropriate patients quickly and treatment can begin. It is vital to get the scan done as soon as possible so the cause of the stroke can be established. “

Dr David Bruce, chief of service for older people at County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust, said: “The results show that the acute stroke service is performing extremely well. We are seeing patients soon after their stroke and getting a large proportion of them the appropriate treatment they need.”

Dr Adrian Bergin, a consultant in elderly care at South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “It is crucial to a patient’s recovery that they can access stroke services as soon as possible. I am delighted to see the whole region’s stroke services are doing so well.”