EMERGENCY stroke patients from the Whitby area will now be taken directly to hospital in Middlesbrough for their treatment.

This will replace previous arrangements which saw patients from Whitby and surrounding villages taken first to Scarborough for an initial assessment and then to York for their main treatment.

This ‘two legged’ approach was instigated by health chiefs after problems recruiting replacements for stroke consultants at Scarborough Hospital who were due to retire over the summer.

But doctors were keen that a one-journey solution be found for patients needing emergency care.

Patients are now being taken directly by emergency ambulance to the specialist stroke unit at James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough.

Dr George Campbell, a Whitby GP and vice chairman of the Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “The long-term plan is to provide all stroke rehabilitation from April 2016 onwards in Whitby, once work has been completed to enhance facilities.”