Stroke
A stroke is a serious, potentially life-threatening medical condition, that happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted.
There are 2 main causes of strokes:
- Ischaemic – where the blood supply is stopped because of a blood clot, accounting for 85% of all cases
- Haemorrhagic – where a weakened blood vessel supplying the brain bursts
Important Information
Strokes are a medical emergency and urgent treatment is essential.
The sooner a person receives treatment for a stroke, the less damage is likely to happen and therefore less disability is experienced by the patient.
If you suspect that you or someone else is having a stroke, phone 999 immediately and ask for an ambulance.
If you are feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or struggling to cope please contact your GP who may refer you to the relevant healthcare professional.
What does Cardiff and Vale offer?
Here in Cardiff and the Vale University Health Board we provide:
On arrival to the hospital, if a patient is thought to be having a stroke and is being seen within 4 and a half hours of the start of symptoms, there is the potential of administering a clot-dispersing drug if the stroke is ischaemic in nature. UHW is currently the only hospital in Wales where on-site clot removal can be performed.
Should neurosurgery be needed, we also have on-site specialists and facilities to manage this if appropriate. There is a dedicated acute stroke unit in UHW where patients will receive initial assessments, stabilisation of condition and planning on the next steps of their journey.
Some may be able to be discharged home with ESD support, others may need transfer to the specialist Stroke Rehabilitation Centre in UHL.
The Acute Stroke Unit and SRC teams will both aid the patient on their rehabilitation journey, but in some instances a longer period of in-patient rehabilitation is needed and this is when transfer to the SRC may be beneficial.
In this unit, the team will work to aid the patient in learning how to control some elements of their body and re-gain functions lost due to the damage to the brain tissue caused by the stroke. With guidance from the multidisciplinary team the patient can apply themselves to this process supported by the various disciplines needed.
Each patient’s journey will be different and is influenced by how much the patient was affected by their stroke and also by their ability to take part in the rehabilitation process. Then ultimately decisions can be made about adapting or altering their living circumstances to discharge home and continue their journey post-stroke in the community.
A multi-professional team that provides rehabilitation in the community following a new stroke event. This team accepts referrals from acute stroke, stroke rehabilitation and community services.
The team is focused on delivering rehabilitation through self management and help support clients to make informed decisions about their rehabilitation and care.
This is a time limited service.
Contact details
Acute Stroke UHW: 02920743783
Stroke Rehabilitation Centre (SRC) – Llandough: 02920 715929 / 5992
Early supported discharge: 02921826695
Cardiffandvale.Esd@wales.nhs.uk
