A GROUND-BREAKING service for stroke patients was launched on Friday at a hospital in Medway.

The initiative, launched at St Bartholomew's Hospital in Rochester, will give a more efficient service for stroke sufferers in Medway.

Gillingham MP Paul Clark and Chatham and Aylesford MP Jonathan Shaw joined patients and heath professionals to officially open the Stroke Rehabilitation Unit. The project, which has a backing investment of nearly a million, was paid for by the Department of Health.

The funding has provided a team of multi-disciplinary staff who have a wide range of skills and expertise.

The main players responsible for the project are Medway and Swale Primary Care Trusts, Medway NHS Trust and Medway and Swale Council's Health and Community Services.

The new service will provide rapid diagnosis and treatment, improved care and rehabilitation and support for community based rehabilitation and prevention of strokes.

The service has been developed through a close partnership with patients and their carers, as well as the voluntary and independent sector.

Central to the service are the acute care unit at Medway Maritime Hospital, an inpatient rehabilitation in Medway and Swale at St Bartholomew's Hospital and Sheppey Community Hospital and the stroke community assessment rehabilitation team, which provides rehabilitation in the patient's home.

Steven Duckworth, nurse consultant in stroke care, said: "Our new service is an exciting development which has already provided tangible benefits to patients and their families with improved recovery, independence maximised and mortality reduced.

"We worked closely with patients and their families to find out what was needed to improve services for stroke patients, so we're delighted to be able to launch the service as it's been a long process, but now patients can start reaping the benefits."

Two stroke sufferers who were also delighted to see the unit open were Larry Nash of Hoo, and Eric Garrett, of Strood.

Mr Nash said: "The aftercare I received three years ago was not as good as it could have been. I wish the rehabilitation unit had been open when I suffered my stroke."

Mr Garrett said: "When you have a stroke you need lots of information about exactly what is happening to you. This unit will be able to give patients and their families a much better service."

KM-fm's James Phillis has this report...