2nd July 2025 | Clinical Negligence | Misdiagnosis

Stroke Unit Closures in Wales: How Delays in Stroke Diagnosis Could Lead to Clinical Negligence Claims

Stroke units are closing- but the risk to patients is rising.

Every minute matters during a stroke. But with specialist stroke units under threat across the UK, including proposals to shut down stroke services at Bronglais and Glangwili Hospitals in West Wales, patients face growing risks of stroke misdiagnosis, delayed care and lifelong harm.

If you or a loved one has suffered due to stroke treatment delays, you may be entitled to bring a medical negligence stroke claim. This blog explains what’s happening, why it matters, and how our stroke claim solicitors in Wales can help.

Hywel Dda Health Board Proposals: What’s Changing?

According to BBC Wales, Hywel Dda University Health Board is considering closing the acute stroke units at Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth and Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen.

Instead, the Health Board proposes a “treat and transfer” model, where patients are stabilised locally and then moved to stroke units in Llanelli or Haverfordwest. But serious questions remain about this model in rural regions like Ceredigion, Powys, and parts of Gwynedd.

Why Stroke Unit Downgrades Can Be Dangerous

Strokes are acute medical emergencies. Treatments like:

Thrombolysis must be given within 4.5 hours of symptom onset
Thrombectomy may be effective within 6 to 24 hours

Even a 30-minute delay can cause:

Permanent brain damage
Loss of mobility or speech
Longer rehabilitation periods
Higher disability or death rates

Closing local stroke units increases travel and waiting times. raising the risk of stroke misdiagnosis, missed treatment windows and in some cases, avoidable death.

Public Reaction and Local Warnings

At a recent public meeting in Aberystwyth, more than 400 people from Ceredigion, Gwynedd, and Powys gathered to oppose the Bronglais closure, many calling it the best performing stroke unit in the region.

Concerns raised include:

Overstretched ambulance services in rural areas
Lack of air transport infrastructure for urgent stroke transfers
No guarantee of capacity being added at Llanelli or Haverfordwest
Risk to older, rural patients who cannot travel long distances quickly

The Clinical Evidence: “Every Minute Counts”

According to the NHS and Stroke Association:

Every minute without treatment, 1.9 million brain cells die
NICE guidelines state that patients with suspected stroke should have a CT brain scan immediately if they are eligible for treatment
Patients should be admitted to a specialist stroke unit without delay

In rural areas, where patients already face long travel times, removing access to specialist stroke units could cost lives.

Common Clinical Negligence Scenarios in Stroke Claims

Our legal team has supported many families in Wales with stroke negligence cases.

Clinical failings include:

Failure to diagnose stroke symptoms early
Delayed access to brain scans
Not referring the patient to a stroke specialist
Misdiagnosis or inappropriate discharge from A&E
Delayed or missed treatment such as thrombolysis
Inadequate rehabilitation or post-stroke support

If these failures occurred in your care or a family member’s, you may have grounds for a clinical negligence stroke claim.

Stroke Unit Downgrade Legal Advice: Know Your Rights

You may be entitled to bring a medical negligence stroke claim if:

Your stroke was not diagnosed or treated in time
Scans were delayed or wrongly reported
There was no access to a specialist stroke unit
You or a loved one suffered avoidable brain damage or death

Our solicitors in Wales are experts in NHS failure cases. We work with medical experts to assess how delays caused by hospital closures or poor planning may have contributed to your injury.