Lead Clinician for Stroke: Dr I Wiggam

Contact: 028 9032 9241 Extension: 3784

Location The 20 bedded stroke unit is located on Ward Floor 7 North of the BCH Tower, and provides both acute and rehabilitative care. There are 4 monitored beds for acute observation.

Services It is estimated that four thousand people in Northern Ireland suffer a stroke each year. Approximately one third will make a full recovery, one third will die and one third will be left with disability.(NICHSA 2005) Research has shown that rapid access to good emergency care and admission to a dedicated Stroke Unit may significantly reduce mortality and morbidity and improve patient outcome. (Stroke Unit Trialists collaboration 1997, The Stroke Association 2006) Belfast City Hospital provides both acute and rehabilitative stroke services. The Neurovascular Clinic is an integral part of this service, with rapid access to carotid dopplers and neuro-imaging for investigation of suspected Transient Ischaemic Attack. The specialist multidisciplinary team includes Stroke Physicians, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, Social worker, dietician, Specialist Stroke Nurse and nursing team. There is a close working relationship with the community Stroke Team, who are involved in decision making and provide an early supported discharge service for those patients who would benefit. The team work collaboratively with the patient and family to achieve rehabilitative goals. Additional support after discharge is provided by a family support worker from the voluntary sector. Co-ordinated by the stroke specialist nurse, the team also provide a stroke liaison service for other units within the hospital, including the Regional Cancer Centre. The Stroke Team have been involved in the development of innovations in stroke care, such as FEES, (which allows objective swallow assessment), continence management, and improvement of accessibility to information. The service has also engaged in a thrombolysis pilot and is registered with the Safe Implementation of Thrombolysis in Stroke (SITS) Collaboration.. Ongoing team development and education is essential in maintaining a high quality service. Our staff participate in conferences and training events at a national and international level and there is an in-house education program for which the specialist stroke nurse is responsible. The team recently won first place at the BCH Service Improvement Awards, in recognition of its achievements in advancing high quality stroke care.

Useful Links Stroke Association Chest Heart & Stroke Northern Ireland multi-disciplinary Association for Stroke Teams