Sherwood Forest Hospitals has been named as the best trust in the East Midlands for recognising and treating patients who have had a stroke.

The trust, which runs King’s Mill Hospital, Sutton, and Mansfield Community Hospital, is now the eighth best in the country after being given an A rating by the Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme (SSNAP) for the way it handles patients suspected of having a stroke.

The team comprises of the Emergency Department, stroke consultants, thrombolysis nurses, stroke nurse specialists, ward nurses, ward doctors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, clinical psychologists, clinical audit assistants, early supported discharge, members of the discharge team, radiographers, clinical pharmacy, dieticians and East Midlands Ambulance Service.

Stroke matron and divisional governance lead Adam Hayward said: “We are extremely proud to announce that our patients are receiving the best stroke care in the East Midlands.

“This is all thanks to the dedication of the team here on the stroke unit, who have all worked really hard to get us to this level and they should be really proud.”

Andrew Stewart, who suffered a stroke in November last year at the young age of 47, said: “It was a really scary experience having a stroke so early on in my life — it’s not something you expect to happen, but the team were fantastic.

“After just one day on the stroke ward, the physiotherapists came and spoke to me about physiotherapy and worked out a bespoke rehabilitation plan for me. I’m a very active person with a busy family life, so I was keen to get back to full strength as soon as possible, which the team really took on board and helped me with.

“Since being discharged I have gone from strength to strength and even played a game of rugby the other night.

“I can’t thank the stroke team enough for their help and support throughout.”