Melfort resident Doris Smith (second from left) is pictured with the Melfort Hospital team members that treated her shortly after she suffered a stroke last December. Pictured left-to-right are Registered Nurse Narissa Fiske, Smith, Dr. Danielle Desjardins, and RN Terri McLaren. Missing is Sonia Flamand, CT Technologist. (Submitted/SHA)

By Cam Lee

Stroke centre comes through

Former health authority employee first patient treated by Melfort’s primary stroke centre

Sep 27, 2024 | 2:13 PM

A former Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) employee was the first person to put Melfort’s primary stroke centre designation to the test, months before it was set to go live.

Doris Smith fell ill on New Year’s Eve of 2023, when she was suddenly unable to speak.

“All of a sudden I just lost my voice,” Smith said in an SHA news release that detailed the situation. “I could hear (my daughter) talking but I couldn’t answer her.”

Smith’s daughter and her husband knew that something wasn’t right and took her straight to the Melfort Union Hospital’s emergency room (ER).

Fortunately for her, the hospital was in the process of transitioning to a primary stroke centre, a designation that became official on Aug. 19 of this year. The news release said there were enough people educated on becoming a primary stroke centre, and enough computed topography (CT) and ER staff on duty to manage a stroke patient.

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“At that time, 24/7 ER physician and CT coverage remained the only outstanding items needed to secure official stroke centre status,” the SHA release explained.

Staff at the ER were able to diagnose Smith’s symptoms immediately and delivered initial treatment thanks to support and direction from the stroke team and neurologists at Royal University Hospital. Smith was then airlifted to Saskatoon along with her son, who had earlier arrived at the hospital.

Smith’s daughter Brenda Mellon said the medical team was able to administer the clot-busting medicine immediately.

“Our family firmly believes that her recovery was significantly aided by having access to the advanced equipment and exceptional care she received in Melfort.”

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Cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @northeastNOW_SK