Stepping Hill's stroke centre named best in country
It's been named the best out of more than 200 units in England.
Stepping Hill Hospital’s stroke centre in Stockport has been officially ranked as the best in the country.
According to the independent report from the Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme, (SSNAP) who rates the quality and performance of services for every stroke patient, from the treatment they receive to their recovery.
This latest ranking shows a huge improvement for the hospital who came first in the country out of a total of 224 stroke centres, leaping up the national rankings by a staggering 50 places over the last 18 eighteen months.
The hospital’s stroke centre is one of only three specialist units across Greater Manchester and treats over 1100 patients a year, including 76-year-old Roy Miller from New Mills in the High peak, Derbyshire.
Mr Miller is currently recovering at Stepping Hill Hospital following a stroke several weeks ago.
He said that having a stroke is very frightening, but the support that he’s received from the staff at the hospital is an essential part to his recovery progress.
“The care they have given me, doing their very best to help me to recover, has really been fantastic.
“It’s certainly very good to know that this is the best stroke unit in England and to be honest it doesn’t surprise me.”
The clinical director for stroke services at the hospital, Dr Shivakumar Krishnamoorthy said:
"We’re really proud and delighted with this gold standard assessment of our services. Having access to the right tests and treatments immediately, means that stroke patients have a much better chance of recovery.
"Everything we do is about ensuring we provide the highest quality of care for our patients and this achievement is testimonial to the teamwork and dedication of all the staff involved.”
Strokes are currently the fourth biggest killer in the UK and leading cause of disability, with tens of thousands of people suffering from one every year and affecting at least 5000 people across Greater Manchester.