New unit to treat 'mini-strokes'

About 150,000 people in the UK have a stroke every year

A new specialist clinic is to be set up at hospital to treat people in west Suffolk who suffer "mini-strokes".

The unit will be set up at West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds, to enable patients to receive faster treatment closer to home.

"Mini-strokes", also known as transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs), will be treated there from mid October.

Consultants will assess, investigate and treat TIAs, as early treatment prevents many from having full strokes.

Previously, patients from west Suffolk have had to travel to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge for the service.

"This new clinic will speed up the time in which patients are seen, as well as cutting down the amount of travelling they have to do," said Ruth Empson, stroke services facilitator.

"We would encourage anyone who has suffered weakness in one side of their face, arm, leg or who has slurred or jumbled speech to tell their GP.

"We can then see the patient in the new outpatient clinic and investigate further.

"It is important for people to take such symptoms seriously because if they are caused by a TIA, early treatment can help make sure things don't get worse."