Stroke services at South West Acute Hosiptal (SWAH) could cease under radical new plans put forward by the Department of Health today. In a consultation document released by the Department four of six options, as revealed by the Impartial Reporter last week, would see the closure of the Stroke Unit at SWAH.

In all scenarios, hyperacute units will be sited at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, Altnagelvin and Craigavon Area Hospital.

Two of the options would see hyperacute services located at SWAH. However in both options the consultation document issues warnings about sustainability:

"We recognise that the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) performs well against standards and has a relatively small number of annual admissions. The performance of other hospitals with smaller levels of admissions would suggest that the SWAH's performance is not one which can be easily replicated elsewhere. In looking at how services are provide (sic) in the future, we need to look at the sustainability not just of individual sites, but of our network of services as a whole," the document states.

Two years ago, during a pre consultation over 600 people attended a pubic meeting to oppose any change to the Stroke status at the South West Acute Hospital.

Speaking to this newspaper Stephen McAloon, a spokesperson for local lobby group Save Our Stroke Services, said that the group were "ready to fight any option that sees any downgrading or closure of the hyper acute stroke services at SWAH".

"We made our voices heard before and if we have to do it again then we will. Our opinion has not changed at all from that time. We will get everyone together again and make sure that we fight it all the way," Mr. McAloon stated before adding:

"We are watching it all very closely. We haven't seen the document and there is a lot of speculation at the minute. When we see the document, we will obviously know more and if there is a hint of any change then we will be strongly protesting against it."

Department of Health Permanent Secretary Richard Pengelly insisted that a preferred model had not yet been identified.

He encouraged people to give their views on the six options outlined.

"We have an exciting opportunity to change services for the better, protecting many more people from the devastating consequences of stroke," he said.

"We can't secure these improvements without reshaping current provision.

"Our hospital stroke services are currently too thinly spread. Too many units are struggling to maintain sustainable quality care and staffing levels.

"Establishing hyperacute stroke units is vital to ensure we keep pace with advances in treatment and provide the best possible treatment.

"The principle of consolidating care is backed by stroke charities, expert research and the proven success of reforms introduced in London and Manchester."

Stormont ministers had committed to review stroke services prior to the collapse of powersharing in early 2017.

The commitment was made on the back of the findings of a major Stormont-commissioned examination of healthcare delivery in the region by health reform expert Professor Rafael Bengoa in 2016.