Streamlining Stroke Services: From hospital to home

September 3, 2024

Big changes are coming to our stroke services at SWB with the eagerly anticipated opening of Midland Metropolitan University Hospital on Sunday 6 October, we’ll also be transforming the way we deliver stroke care from starting from Tuesday 3 September.

As part of the opening of the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital, we are reconfiguring our stroke care delivery to enhance patient outcomes and experiences. These changes are designed to ensure that every patient receives the highest quality of care, tailored to their individual needs, and aligned with the latest national clinical guidelines.

What’s changing?

Our stroke care will be reconfigured in three parts, each designed to provide seamless, high-quality care tailored to every patient’s unique needs:

1. Inpatient Medical Treatment from Sunday 6 October: Midland Metropolitan University Hospital will be the new hub for acute stroke care and initial rehabilitation. This cutting-edge facility will host specialist teams and state-of-the-art diagnostics, ensuring swift, effective treatment.
2. Home-Based Rehabilitation: For patients stable enough to leave the hospital, we have already expanded our services to bring rehabilitation right to their doorstep. Our Integrated Community Stroke Service (ICSS) is geared up to offer intensive, multidisciplinary support at home.
3. Inpatient Rehabilitation at Rowley Regis Hospital from Tuesday 3 September: When home-based care isn’t feasible, Rowley Regis Hospital will provide specialised inpatient rehabilitation. Equipped with the necessary resources and expertise, Rowley is ready to support complex rehabilitation needs.

Why these changes?

Midland Met our new hospital is focussed on providing acute and emergency care, this restructuring allows us to separate acute services from rehabilitation, aligning with the national stroke service model for optimal patient outcomes.

Clinical evidence strongly supports home-based rehabilitation, showing it leads to improved recovery times and better patient experience. This approach is in line with our Trust’s “home first” ethos, enhancing patient choice and fostering a supportive recovery environment.

Rehabilitation at home: Introducing our Integrated Community Stroke Service (ICSS)

The new Integrated Community Stroke Service (ICSS) will provide home-based stroke rehabilitation through a specialist multidisciplinary team available seven days a week. This service includes early supported discharge and intensive rehabilitation, managing complications such as positioning issues and spasticity. Available for up to 12 weeks following discharge, the ICSS can include multidisciplinary visits as needed, ensuring continuous support and optimal recovery.

Consistent medical provision

A dedicated team of consultants and doctors will oversee care at Midland Metropolitan University Hospital. Upon discharge, patients will transition to their GP for ongoing care, with a six-week review by a specialist hospital consultant. For those in inpatient rehabilitation, seamless care transfer to the medical team at Rowley Regis Hospital will be ensured, with regular consultant ward rounds.

The benefits of moving rehabilitation to Rowley

• Centralised expertise: By centralising rehabilitation services at Rowley Regis, we provide a larger, more resilient team of specialists, enhancing care quality and responsiveness.
• Improved transitions: Co-locating the ICSS team at Rowley Regis ensures smoother transitions for patients from hospital to home-based care.
• Cost efficiency: Consolidating services reduces costs, allowing more clinical time for patient care and supporting our commitment to greener practices.
• Staff Retention and Recruitment: An expanded specialist site improves our ability to attract and retain highly skilled staff, ensuring ongoing excellence in rehabilitation services.