'Patients and staff will suffer': Worker petitions against proposals to move Walsall stroke services to Wolverhampton
A hospital worker who claims the needs of patients and staff in Walsall are being undermined under new proposals to move stroke services has started a petition and is calling for support.
Diane Bettridge is a clinical support worker for stroke patients in Walsall borough and has worked at the town's Manor Hospital for 12 years.
She spent yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon with colleague Lyndsey Piddock outside the site gathering signatures to add to an online petition which already has the support of more than 600 people.
The Walsall Healthcare Trust has published proposals under the NHS 10-year plan to deliver more community-based care for stroke rehabilitation and reduce reliance on hospital-based services.
Bed-based rehabilitation would still be available for those who need it, but would be for shorter periods, with the service moving from Hollybank House in Walsall to West Park Hospital in Wolverhampton.
The trust works in collaboration with the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust and the Black Country Integrated Care System (ICS), and Mrs Bettridge said the proposed changes would mean a 'downgrading' for patients in Walsall. She said services should be shared equally.
"As someone who works within this dedicated team, I know we provide an excellent service to Walsall residents," she said. "Our efforts already contribute significantly to the recovery and improvement of stroke survivors, allowing them to achieve better health outcomes and quality of life.
"The service provides personalised care plans, physical therapy sessions, and other critical interventions tailored to each patient's needs and this is currently within the borough. If the proposals are brought in, someone from Aldridge for example would face a long and expensive journey to Wolverhampton.
"I understand the need for change but by keeping our local services, we ensure residents have timely access to these life-saving and life-enhancing resources without the needless stress of traveling far distances for treatment.
"Continuing to support these services within our community ensures Walsall remains a place that prioritises the health and wellbeing of its citizens and they don't have to travel anywhere else to get that care."
She added that not everyone would be able to provide feedback because the public were being encouraged to get in touch online.
Lyndsey said her father had two strokes, with the first one seeing him cared for at Hollybank House and learning to walk again. The second one saw him receive treatment elsewhere and he hasn't returned to working unaided yet.
A spokesperson for the Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust said the proposals were in line with a national model of reducing the number of patients being treated in hospital and allowing them to receive the same care in their home environment.
They stated key benefits of the proposed new model include reduced time in hospital, with faster access to rehabilitation after hospital discharge and more personalised recovery support care.
A statement said: "These are proposals at the moment and people can share their views by completing a short survey or in person, not just online.
"Face-to-face engagement with the public, patients, carers and staff is also taking place for example at a Healthwatch meeting this week and a previous meeting."
