STROKE patients on The Fylde are getting better care thanks to an amazing donation by hospital volunteers.

Blackpool Victoria Hospital's League of Friends has donated a whopping £23,000 to buy specialist monitoring equipment for the hospital's acute stroke ward.

The technology means stroke patients can be monitored round-the-clock and gives vital information to the stroke team managing their care.

Dr Mark O'Donnell, consultant physician with a special interest in stroke, said: "We are extremely grateful to the League of Friends for this very generous donation.

"This new equipment is state-of-the-art and will have a huge impact on the way we manage patients in the acute stage of stroke.

"The high-tech equipment, along with the dedicated team of staff who manage the stroke service will make a real difference."

Larry O'Hara, League of Friends treasurer, said: "It is a genuine delight to see these efforts of the League of Friends put to such good use."

The new equipment is the latest in a series of stroke care improvements by Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Hospitals NHS Trust.

These include a dedicated 18-bed acute stroke unit with specialist team, the appointment of the first stroke nurse specialist, Alison Stewart, and an additional consultant, Dr James McIlmoyle.

The hospital is also working towards National Service Framework (NSF) for Older People standards, including stroke care.

Dr O'Donnell added: "Ten years ago stroke services right across the country were totally disorganised.

"We now know that if people who have had a stroke receive properly organised care by people who are dedicated to dealing with stroke patients you can make a big difference to their outcome, both in terms of surviving the stroke and their recovery."