Northern Ireland's regional thrombectomy service, which removes blood clots to restore blood flow to the brain, is now available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This expansion follows a £5m investment from Stormont's Programme for Government Elective Care funding.
Previously, the service was only available between 08:00 and 17:00. The new 24/7 provision, which began on 14 September, means the time a stroke occurs is no longer a barrier to accessing this treatment.
Dr Patricia Gordon, a stroke consultant at Belfast Health Trust, stated that approximately 10% of stroke patients have a large clot suitable for thrombectomy. She added that the procedure can increase a patient's chances of making a good recovery by more than 50% and reduce the risk of death by almost 20%.
Health Minister Robbie Butler described Northern Ireland as the first UK nation to provide a 24/7 thrombectomy service for its entire population. The service aims to build capacity towards 300 thrombectomy procedures annually, doubling previous numbers during reduced hours.