DARENT Valley Hospital is to open a new clinic aimed at reducing the number of stroke victims.
The West Kent Primary Care Trust has funded a new £100,000 clinic specialising in treating transient ischaemic attacks (TIA), which opens on May 12.
A TIA is a mini-stroke which can lead to a full stroke if untreated.
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They are often ignored by sufferers because the symptoms pass quickly.
Denise Painter, 56, is a family and carer support co-ordinator for charity the Stroke Association.
She works with victims of strokes and their families in Dartford and Gravesham and has welcomed the new clinic.
Mrs Painter said: "In my experience, many victims of strokes suffered a TIA beforehand but didn't act upon it.
"This will raise awareness and provide vital treatment."
Margaret Freeman, 59, of Old Road East, Gravesend, suffered a stroke in February 2001 and was treated at Darent Valley, in Dartford.
Prior to her stroke, she had blurred vision and says if she had been aware it was a symptom of a TIA, she would have sought medical help.
She said: "This clinic can help people who are in the same situation now as I was seven years ago to avoid a full stroke. It's a great idea."
Darent Valley currently only has one session with a consultant each week for TIA sufferers and sees around 100 patients a year.
The new clinic will be open Monday to Friday from 9am until noon and is expected to see around 250 patients each year once it is up and running.
There are plans to extend opening to seven days a week by the end of this year, meaning patients will be seen and treated within 24 hours.
Primary care trust associate director of strategic development Julie Hunt said: "The new clinic is going to make a big difference in preventing and treating strokes and will reduce the number of people either dying or suffering long-term disability as a result."
Symptoms of a TIA include facial muscle weakness, arm weakness and speech problems.
Strokes are the third biggest killer in the UK after heart disease and cancer.
For more information, call the Stroke Association on 0845 303310 or visit its website at stroke.org.uk
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