Walsall Stroke report

Healthwatch Walsall supported a public consultation on a proposal to centralise hyper-acute and acute stroke services at New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton, while retaining rehabilitation services closer to home in Walsall. The consultation gathered 360 survey responses and involved engagement at 60 community venues across the borough. Overall, many respondents supported specialist stroke care, with 69% agreeing that expert treatment was more important than location and 62% agreeing that expert rehabilitation was the key priority.

Support for the specific proposal was more mixed. Around 45% felt the changes would improve access to diagnosis and treatment, while 55% believed rehabilitation needs could be met through community-based services. However, opinion was divided on whether the proposal would make services fairer or safer, with significant numbers expressing concerns about travel times, ambulance journeys, capacity at New Cross Hospital and the potential loss of a local stroke service. 

The most common issues raised by respondents were transport, accessibility, staffing levels, service capacity, the importance of rapid treatment, and the impact on family involvement and rehabilitation. Many participants were concerned that travelling further for treatment could delay access to care, while others felt a specialist centre would provide more consistent and higher-quality treatment. There were also calls for clearer information about the proposed model and stronger community rehabilitation support.

Overall, Healthwatch concluded that while there was recognition of the benefits of specialist stroke care, concerns remained about travel, capacity, local provision and communication. Recommendations included ensuring adequate staffing and capacity at the specialist centre, improving transport support, providing clearer information through GP practices, and undertaking further engagement with stroke survivors and their families to better understand the impact of the proposed changes.