A comprehensive stroke centre for North Merseyside has been created at Aintree University Hospital, dedicated to caring for people in the critical 72-hour period after a stroke occurs.

The new centre brings together the hyper-acute stroke care previously based at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Aintree University Hospital, and Southport Hospital.

Providing this service from a single unit is designed to improve access to the specialist staff, tests, equipment, and procedures that are crucial for diagnosing and treating people as quickly and effectively as possible following a stroke. 

Suspected stroke patients will avoid attending our emergency departments and will be seen straight away by stroke specialists.

Locating the hyper-acute aspect of the stroke service at Aintree University Hospital, means it will be on the same site as The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, the specialist neurosciences hospital, which provides a stroke treatment called thrombectomy, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

This will significantly increase the number of local patients able to receive thrombectomy within the required time window.

After the first 72-hours, up to half of patients will be able to leave hospital to continue their recovery at home, with help from an early supported discharge team. Those patients who aren’t ready to go home, will be given further care at either Aintree, Broadgreen or Southport hospitals, depending on which is closest to where they live.

For admissions:

Aintree Stroke Emergency Assessment Centre

Tel: 0151 529 2784
Monday to Sunday, 24 hours, is open

Aintree Hyper Acute Stroke Unit, Ward 32

Tel: 0151 529 2461
Monday to Sunday, 24 hours, is open

Aintree Acute Stroke Unit, Ward 33

Tel: 0151 529 2660
Monday to Sunday, 24 hours, is open

Southport Stroke, Ward 15B

Tel: 01704 704232
Monday to Sunday, 24 hours, is open

Broadgreen Stroke Rehabilitation Ward, Ward 8

Tel: 0151 282 6253
Monday to Sunday, 24 hours

TIA referrals into the team can be sent to: AintreeTIA.referrals@liverpoolft.nhs.uk 

More information

Suspected stroke patients are usually blue lighted to hospital, however, patients can also self-present and those who have suffered a mini-stroke (transient ischaemic attack – TIA) can be referred into the North Mersey Stroke Service by their GP.

The North Mersey Stroke service is also at:

Southport and Ormskirk Hospital
Town Lane
Southport
PR8 6PN

Stroke Association
Stroke Survivors Help and Support
The Community Centre
Formosa Drive
Fazakerley
L10 7LQ

Stroke Association website

Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is a research active trust, supporting and facilitating new innovative ways of providing healthcare to improve patient experience and outcomes. To find out about current research opportunities or register for future studies, please visit the Stroke Research page.