Dr Liu Yang,
a stroke neurologist from South west China started a 4 -month clinical
placement this week at Guy’s and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust. Invited by
Professor Tony Rudd, Dr Yang’s training will take in the hyper-acute stroke
unit, stroke rehabilitation, community support for stroke survivors and how
stroke services are regulated and inspected.
What does
stroke support look like in your country?
Stroke
support in the community is really inadequate in South West of China. Given the
fact that stroke is a leading cause of disability in China and there are
millions of stroke survivors, we need to look to establishing stroke support
services in the community, which can lead to greater awareness, better
management of risk factors and improved quality of life for stroke
survivors.
How would
you like to be involved in stroke support?
The Fourth
People’s Hospital (Chongqing Emergency Medical Centre) where I am a
neurologist, is well equipped with all modern medical facilities including an air
pad, but there is no standardised built hyper acute stroke unit in Chongqing,
or even in the whole region. The hospital director- Ms Ma is very keen to set
up and develop stroke services in our hospital, learning from the World Stroke
Organization and UK stroke experts. We recognise that improving stroke services
needs to extend beyond the hospital into the community. Therefore visiting the
Stroke Association in the UK, a stroke support organization member of WSO will
be a valuable experience alongside my clinical placements.
How do you
think community stroke support can prevent strokes?
Given that
90% of strokes are connected to risk factors that we can manage, we need to
better educate people in China especially in those less developed
areas, about how they can manage these stroke risk factors. This will
require greater awareness raising in the community – something that the Red
Bracelet movement is already doing across China.
What would
you say to other people to make them take stroke prevention seriously?
As a
neurologist I have seen the devastation that stroke can cause to people from
across society, men, women, young, older, rich and poor. We need to educate people
to take better care of themselves and avoid the devastation caused by stroke.
What is
your reason for preventing strokes?
As a doctor I
want to ensure that people live the best and healthiest lives that they can. I
don’t want to see so many people affected from stroke on the neurology ward.
