Stroke treatment is extremely specialised which means it is important anyone who might be suffering from a stroke is taken to their nearest unit quickly.  

The Hampshire Hospitals' stroke unit is located at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester. 

Why is it so important to seek urgent medical attention in the event of a stroke?

The faster a suspected stroke is treated, the better the chances of recovery or minimising damage.

The window for seeking the most effective treatment is extremely short, so it is essential to act quickly and call an ambulance.  

One such treatment is a procedure called thrombolysis which means breaking up blood clots with use of a special ‘clot busting’ drug – hence the need to attend a specialist unit as quickly as possible.

Find out more about the need to act FAST - please take a moment to watch this short film or read this leaflet. 

 

 

A “stroke” is an interruption of blood flow to the brain.

When this happens, braincells which rely on blood, may be damaged or die. This can lead to permanent brain damage or even death.

There are two types of Stroke:

  1. Ischaemic stroke

This is the most common and is often caused by a blood clot or a piece of fatty material blocking an artery.

  1. Haemorrhagic stroke

When the walls of a blood vessel in the brain become weak and burst, causing bleeding and brain damage.

A “mini stroke” – called a Transient Ischaemic Attack – is similar to a stroke and acts as a vital warning sign. The brain’s bloody supply is temporarily affected which means risk of permanent damage is low.

A stroke can happen to anyone at any age, but your risk may increase if:

  • you're over 50 years old

  • you're from a Black or South Asian background

  • you have sickle cell disease (SCD)

  • you have an unhealthy lifestyle

  • you have migraines

  • you take the combined contraceptive pill

  • you're pregnant and have pre-eclampsia

  • you've just had a baby

Certain conditions also increase the risk of stroke. These include:

TIA referral: 01962 824159 / tiareferrals@hhft.nhs.uk

Secretaries: 01962 824159

 

Consultants 

Zehra Mehdi (joint clinical lead for HHFT Stroke Service) 

Matthew Simpson

Nigel Smyth

Ela Tone

Lucy Sykes

James Kelly

John Duffy

 

Stroke Matron

Gayle Slade

Stroke Sister

Mini Matthews

 

Stroke Advanced Clinical Practitioners

Chris Sanders

Constance Lau

Francesca Chambers (trainee)

Stroke Therapy Lead

Steve Williams (joint clinical lead for HHFT Stroke Service) 

Stroke Early Supported Discharge Team Lead

Louise Darrah

 

Stroke Specialist Nurse

Charlotte Eglinton