STROKE services at the Royal Bolton Hospital are to receive a boost, with plans designed to improve patient care.
Last year, more than 500 people were admitted to the Farnworth hospital after suffering a stroke and it is predicted this figure will soar over the next five years.
Hospital bosses have admitted stroke services across the country had not been given as high a priority as other areas, but insisted the Royal Bolton would now do all it could to re-dress the balance.
Director of service development Ann Schenck, said: "Although we have done a lot in Bolton to improve care for stroke patients - for instance by increasing the number of dedicated rehabilitation beds we know there is a lot more can be done.
"We're determined to improve the quality of care for this importance group of people."
Plans include a designated area in the hospital for patients in the immediate stages after a stroke, quicker access to diagnostic CT scans, quicker decision making on the use of anticoagulation or other treatments and better accommodation for rehabilitation.
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