Local people to benefit from seven day mechanical thrombectomy service

Residents across Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Redbridge and across Essex can now benefit from a seven-day-a-week mechanical thrombectomy service.

This procedure is used to treat acute stroke patients by removing blood clots from the brain. It provides much better outcomes for patient who is some cases can walk out of hospital after just 24 hours, rather than face lifelong disability often associated with strokes.

The seven-day service, being offering by Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, has been made possible thanks to the recruitment of additional staff. The procedure was previously carried out on a sporadic basis.

It was a mechanical thrombectomy which ensured 25-year-old stroke patient Loren Dixon was able to go home from Queen’s Hospital just days after her stroke in May this year with no ill effects. She said: “The speed at which the doctors acted saved my life and I’m so grateful. I love to travel and this means I still can.”

Magda Smith, Chief Medical Officer, said: “Stroke is the biggest cause of disability in the world, and the fourth-largest cause of death, so we know offering this procedure seven-days-a-week will make a real difference to the lives of our patients and their families.

“It’s extremely important that if people are suffering from a suspected stroke, or any other potentially life-threatening condition, that they come to our hospitals for treatment. Everyone can be reassured that we are taking every precaution to keep our patients, visitors, and staff safe.”