Health, Wellbeing and Local Government Committee

Inquiry into Stroke Services - Written evidence from Dr. Neil McKenzie

Dear Mr. George

Re: below, I have no time to sort through doc. for template, but here are a few comments which which you might kindly forward to the committee. They concern the stroke service in the Llandudno area of N. Wales are are based on patients' experience

1. initial "rapid response" is fine -20-30 mins from 999 call to paramedic arrival

2. Llandudno hospital diagnosis unaided by NMR - leaves doubt about whether stroke due to bleeding or clot - serious

3. NMR scan at Bangor can take 4-5 days from admission to LLandudno

4. Hospital care generally fine, but no counselling about recovery e.g. speech therapy was supplied only after a patient raised it as a specific need. Whose responsibility is it to counsel recovering stroke patients - role clarification?

5. Stroke care provision must reflect historical demographic data, anticipate trends and incorporate into forward planning. E.g. Llandudno is focus of incoming retirees, on UK retirement rate cusp.

Cofion gorau

Dr. Neil McKenzie