New enhanced stroke unit opens with expanded capacity 

Colleagues gathered earlier this month (4 June) to celebrate the official opening of our newly enhanced stroke unit, which now features a 20% increase in capacity, bringing the total number of beds to 43. The unit is based at Royal Bournemouth Hospital and is set to welcome its first patients on June 10, consolidating the stroke services team into one central location. 

This state-of-the-art facility not only provides additional beds but also boasts improved patient amenities and expanded office space. Centralising the stroke services enhances flexibility and resilience among staff, streamlines patient care pathways, and improves continuity of care by minimising mid-treatment hospital transfers, ultimately reducing the length of hospital stays. 

Dr. Suzanne Ragab, consultant stroke physician and UHD’s clinical lead for stroke, expressed her enthusiasm about the new unit: 

"Having the stroke service consolidated on one site is already enhancing patient care, particularly in reducing the average length of stay for our patients.  

“Congratulations to everyone involved – this development marks a significant advancement in the care we can offer stroke patients." 

Dr. Ragab highlighted the benefits of the new unit: 

“Combining services in one location allows for greater staff flexibility and resilience, more efficient patient pathways, and access to our innovative Walkerbot technology.  

“We have already observed notable improvements, with recent data showing a significant reduction in treatment times since the consolidation.  

“For instance, patients from the Poole and Purbeck areas are now receiving life-saving treatment in about one-third of the time it took before these changes.”