In the latest Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme (SSNAP) dataset, released this month, East Kent Hospitals was the only trust to achieve the top rating of A for the period July to September last year.

Dr David Hargroves, the trust's clinical lead for stroke and NHS England's national clinical director for stroke, said: ‘There have been remarkable improvements in stroke care delivered across the country and particularly so in East Kent Hospitals, reflected in this audit. Recently published mortality data also demonstrates statistically fewer patients are dying from stroke disease after being cared for in East Kent Hospitals.

‘Although East Kent is the only organisation in the UK to have achieved this grade, a distinction that speaks to the quality, consistency and ambition of the service; there are still further improvements we know we need to make to ensure our patients get the very best possible care from the NHS.'

During the coronavirus pandemic, hyperacute stroke services were temporarily moved to a single unit at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital. Long-term plans will see the service expand and relocate to the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford.

Clinicians have introduced artificial intelligence-enabled CT decision support software to speed up scan interpreting and allow patients to start treatment faster.

The team was also the first in the UK to provide 24-hour access to pre-hospital video triage, enabling paramedics to speak directly to specialist medical staff for advice. A range of CT scans are also available 24 hours a day, with extended access to MRI scanning.