EAST Lancashire hospitals missed a key stroke patients target every month last year.

But hospital chiefs are confident that by April they will be hitting the requirement to see 60 per cent of ‘mini stroke’ patients within 24 hours.

People who suspect they may have had a small stroke should contact a doctor.

Symptoms may include temporary weakness or clumsiness of a hand, arm, or leg, difficulties with speech or swallowing, numbness or pins and needles of a part of the body and brief loss of vision, or double vision.

GPs can then refer patients for a hospital assessment, so they can receive treatment as soon as possible.

Medics say this is vital to help reducing the chance of further strokes.

Each month last year East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust trust repeatedly recorded rates lower than 40 per cent, attaining an average score of just 31.3 per cent.

Bosses said one of the problems had been a lack of specialist stroke doctors to see patients.

Meg Davey, business manager for elderly care, rehabilitation and stroke, said: “What I would like to stress is that this is an extremely challenging target, and nationally it is challenging for other trusts. But this target is there and we need to meet it.

“I'm determined to do this by March and I've got a few cards up my sleeve that we will be trying. I think we have to be more imaginative.”

The trust is on track to achieve its other stroke care target, ensuring that at least 60 per cent of patients spend a minimum of 90 per cent of their time in hospital in a stroke-designated ward, with an average score of 73.7 per cent.

But Mrs Davey said she would not rest until all the stroke unit's targets were met.

Mrs Davey said the trust had already expanded its mini-stroke or TIA (transient ischemic attack) assessment service from five to six days a week, offering weekend provision on Saturdays.

It hopes to increase this to a seven-day service, and has advertised for a fourth stroke consultant to help meet this demand.

But in the meantime she said she was looking at how staff could be used more flexibly to cover more days.

Her team is also working with the Cardiac and Stroke Network and the Stroke Association charity, which has an on-site base.

Mrs Davey, who used to work with complex stroke patients as matron at Rakehead Rehabilitation Centre in Burnley, said: “I'm in this job because I'm really passionate about stroke services and stroke patients.

“I know we've got concerns, but I won't stop until we've got them right.”