Patients who suffer a stroke experience much better outcomes if they are treated in specialist stroke units, a leading doctor has said.

According to geriatric consultant, Dr Diarmuid O'Shea, of St Vincent's University Hospital in Dublin, patients treated in stroke units are more likely to get home following a stroke and are less likely to require nursing care.

A stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted, depriving it of oxygen. As a result, some of the brain cells die and others are damaged. Every year in Ireland, around 7,500 strokes take place and some 30,000 people are currently living with stroke-related disabilities. Early, specialist treatment is key to reducing this risk.

Dr O'Shea emphasised that due to improvements in treatment, more people are now surviving and recovering from stroke.

"One of the most important developments in care has been the establishment of stroke units. Providing patient-focused care on a specialist ward with an expert multidisciplinary healthcare professional team, has greatly contributed to more people surviving and recovering from stroke," he noted.

Stroke patients attending St Vincent's are already achieving better long-term outcomes following the establishment of a stroke unit at the hospital.

As a result of this, St Vincent's plans to develop more specialist wards for other patient cohorts. It is hoped that this will ensure that patients receive the best possible care in the most co-ordinated way.

Dr O'Shea pointed out that as a result of its work with stroke patients, St Vincent's has adapted its overall approach to caring for older, frail patients.

"Frailty increases with age and frail, older patients also benefit from multidisciplinary care. Similar to stroke patients, they need focused and earlier access to skilled nursing and allied health professional care staff.

"Focusing on recognising, understanding and identifying those that are frailer will allow us target initiatives and care pathways for this patient group. This has the potential to reduce the likelihood of a functional decline when they are in hospital, and get them home more quickly," Dr O'Shea explained.

He made his comments at a recent annual study day, which was held by the Medicine for the Elderly Department in St Vincent's.