ACUTE stroke services could be moved from Worcester to Redditch under controversial proposals.

Plans are on the table to close acute stroke beds at Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester and transfer them to ward five of the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch.

Concerns have been raised that patients who suffer the devastating brain attacks in Worcester, Malvern and Hereford will have further to travel to hospital.

Time is of the essence in treating strokes to prevent death or reduce the risk of disability – but experts also say that centralising services can improve the quality of care which is vital to recovery.

There are 34 acute and ‘step down’ beds and 37 rehabilitation beds in Worcestershire.

Under the plans 16 acute stroke beds at Worcestershire Royal Hospital would close.

We have already reported how 20 stroke rehabilitation beds are to close at the Royal on Monday, August 1, as part of the decommissioning of the Aconbury unit although health chiefs say these beds will be provided elsewhere in the community.

But while beds in Worcester close the number of acute stroke beds at ward five of the Alex would rise from 18 to 28 with 10 step down beds in ward 11.

The number of general rehab beds (17 beds) in Kidderminster would remain the same.

The information was provided by Brendan Young, a shadow governor with Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust and a public representative of the Worcestershire Stroke Strategy Operations Group, who is standing for election in Malverh Hills District Council next month.

He said: “I have an understanding of the effect a stroke has.

"My mum died following a stroke and I have had a lot of contact with stroke victims. We are talking about life and death and major disability.

"Moving stroke services out of Worcester would be a catastrophe for stroke victims in Malvern in particular.

"We are losing that golden window of opportunity.

“I have been advised the additional time the 30 plus miles trip to Redditch from the Malvern Hills area involves will result in the deaths of millions of extra brain cells after stroke and will reduce the opportunity for thrombolysis and recovery without disability.”

Heather Webber, head of operations for The Stroke Association said: “Stroke patients are more likely to survive, make a better recovery and spend less time in hospital if they are admitted directly into a high-quality stroke unit and receive specialist care from a co-ordinated team.

“Although time is absolutely critical when it comes to emergency stroke care, quality is of the utmost importance as well.

"Round-the-clock access to stroke units and brain scanners is essential and this often requires centralising emergency care – as is the case here in Worcestershire.

“Longer-term support and rehabilitation for stroke survivors, such as the Community Stroke Rehabilitation Team which is being currently being expanded in Worcestershire, may be more appropriately provided more locally and closer to people’s homes.”

Your Worcester News understands the plans are at an early stage and could change subject to a 12 week consultation which would take place after the May elections.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust chief executive John Rostill said: “I am bitterly disappointed this information has been leaked prematurely at such an early and sensitive stage in discussions.

"Clinicians and managers are striving to develop proposals intended to improve the outcomes of care for stroke patients across the county.

"Any proposals that are finalised cannot be discussed in public until after the election in May and will naturally be subject to public consultation. “

• A public meeting called “Protecting Stroke Services in Worcestershire” will be held at Powick Parish Hall on Wednesday, April 20 at 7pm, chaired by Dr Richard Taylor, the former Wyre Forest MP.