STROKE patients could be sent to Whiston Hospital for emergency treatment instead of Warrington Hospital under a new scheme.

Patients who display signs and symptoms of strokes will go to Whiston Hospital for clot-busting medication thrombolysis if the plans are passed.

At present, stroke sufferers receive thrombolysis, which must be given within the first four hours of stroke symptoms appearing, at Warrington Hospital.

Since June last year, patients have been taken to Whiston Hospital out-of-hours and at weekends, but the move would now see this happen around the clock.

NHS Warrington Clinical Commissioning Group says the new arrangement could ‘significantly improve outcomes for stroke patients’.

A second phase of the plans, a collaboration between Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, would see a specialist single hyper-acute unit for strokes developed at Whiston Hospital.

The specialist unit would take all patients with stroke symptoms for their acute care before being discharged back to Warrington Hospital’s stroke ward.

Warrington, Halton and St Helens clinical commissioning groups are now seeking views on the changes, with a consultation running until Friday, September 15.

Dr Jaish Puri, GP and clinical lead for urgent care at NHS Warrington Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “We are committed to constantly reviewing the services we provide to ensure that, by working in partnership, patients receive the right care at the right time in the right place.

“The review of stroke services identified areas for improvement and making these changes will ensure the best possible outcome for patients.”

A public engagement session will be held by the Stroke Association and NHS Warrington Clinical Commissioning Group at Orford Jubilee Neighbourhood Hub between 10am and 12pm on Thursday, July 6.

To book your place email rebecca.murray@stroke.org.uk or call 01617427468.

Residents can also give their views by emailing stroke@warringtonccg.nhs.uk, calling 843745 or completing a survey by clicking here.