In early April, the Da Nang General Hospital established its Stroke Ward by merging its separated stroke units.

A stroke patient receiving medical treatment at the hospital’s Stroke Ward

The intention is to enhance the efficiency of examinations and treatment for this disease which often leaves severe after-effects.

After the first 2 weeks of operation, the ward has received a total of around 90 patients.

According to Dr Nguyen Thanh Trung, Deputy Director of the hospital cum Head of the newly-established ward, his hospital receives an annual average of about 2,000 stroke patients.

He said previously stroke patients had been treated in such wards as the Positive Resuscitation and Anti-Poison, Neurology and Internal Cardiology, negatively affecting the treatment process for them.

He, therefore, highlighted the significance of the establishment of this ward in easily gathering medical staff for giving initial first aid to stroke patients within the so-called ‘Golden Time’ which is considered a good chance to save their lives.

Dr Trung remarked his ward’s stroke emergency team was operating around the clock with a Stroke bag. This bag contains full emergency equipment and medicines for patients with stroke, plus patient information tables and CT scan results. This is now the most effective method for treating acute ischemic stroke in the world with a high rate of recovery.

He, however, emphasised this method can only be used for stroke patients who are hospitalised within the so-called ‘Golden Time’ since the first 6 hours of symptom onset.

In the coming time, the ward will coordinate with the city's Emergency Centre 115 and local medical establishments to organise training courses for local residents in order to help them clearly understand about stroke signs and symptoms, plus initial first aid.