Impending changes to a stroke unit have driven the public into ‘panic mode’, according to the local clinical commissioning group (CCG), despite the fact that the service is not closing.
Removing hyperacute stroke services from the local hospital is a ‘temporary measure’ North East Lincolnshire CCG stressed at a meeting with their Health and Wellbeing Board.
In fact, the changes would see the current five-days service replaced by 24/7 hyperacute cover.
Impending changes to a stroke unit have driven the public into ‘panic mode’, according to the local clinical commissioning group (CCG), despite the fact that the service is not closing.
Removing hyperacute stroke services from the local hospital is a ‘temporary measure’ North East Lincolnshire CCG stressed at a meeting with their Health and Wellbeing Board.
In fact, the changes would see the current five-days service replaced by 24/7 hyperacute cover.
Anne Hames, chairman of the CCG’s community forum explained that many people believed the change would be permanent.
She said: "People are hearing what they want to hear. It is this critical word temporary that's been lost and there has been a panic mode.
"There's a lot of assumptions going on and I think we really need to highlight to people that that's not the case."
Cathy Kennedy, deputy chief executive of the CCG said: "There are concerns that this is a permanent change, which is not the case. There are concerns that it has been done in an attempt to avoid consultation, which is not the case."
She revealed that the trust was aiming to introduce the temporary changes by next month.
Asked when a permanent solution would be introduced, she said: "We are looking to be coming out and talking about the future shape of the service early in the new year but we will have to go through a formal consultation.”
