Public Consultations for Stroke Rehabilitation Services at Bishop Auckland Hospital

People from County Durham and Darlington are invited to partake in the relaunched 10-week public consultations, affecting stroke rehabilitation services at Bishop Auckland hospital (original consultations were paused due to Purdah). At the moment, the majority of the local population who have had a suspected stroke are taken to the hyperacute stroke ward (Ward 2) at the University Hospital of North Durham (UHND). Patients who then require long term acute specialist stroke rehabilitation they are currently transferred to Bishop Auckland Hospital. Those patients who transfer to the stroke rehabilitation ward at Bishop Auckland Hospital stay there on average for nearly three weeks. After that, patients who are well enough go home do so with further therapy provided in the community. Others are discharged to a community hospital such as the Richardson Community Hospital in Barnard Castle or Chester-le-Street Community Hospital, or receive ongoing care in a nursing or residential home.

The feedback the CCGs received from patients and their families has identified the need for better transition between hospital and community based services. The feedback also highlighted that more needed to be done to ensure specialist community stroke services are accessible and effective. Following this feedback, the CCGs are consulting on two options;  Maintain current services, nothing will change or Consolidate stroke rehab services at the University Hospital of North Durham, alongside the current hyperacute stroke unit and ensure robust pathway between hospital and community (the prefferd option by CCGs). 

Pop along to one of the public consultation meetings to have your say;

Event 1- Saturday, January 25, 2020, 10am-12pm, Bishop Auckland Football Club, DL14 9AE 

Event 2 – Tuesday, February 4, 2020, 6-8pm, Great Hall, Durham Town Hall, DH1 3NJ 

Event 3 – Thursday, February 6, 2020, 10-12pm, The Witham, Barnard Castle, DL12 8LY 

Event 4 – Tuesday, February 11, 2020, 1pm -3pm St Augustine Parish Centre, Darlington, DL3 7TG 

You must register in order to attend any of these public consultations, which can be done by clicking here or by calling 0191 3898609 and please leave your name, email or home address and phone number and which event you would like to attend.

You can also have your say by completing the online survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/SRehConsultation.  Further information is available on the CCG websites.