Thousands of people who suffer a stroke in Greater Manchester will get better care under a 2m shake-up of services.
All emergency treatment is being centralised at three hospitals Salford Royal, Stepping Hill in Stockport and Fairfield Hospital in Bury in a bid to save 50 lives a year.
District stroke units at other hospitals will remain open under the plans but will shift their focus from emergency care to patient rehabilitation and recovery.
Experts say it means patients across the region will be able to access the gold standard of care within the vital first few days after a stroke.
Dr Khalil Kawafi, consultant stroke physician at Fairfield Hospital, said: There is strong evidence that these changes will lead to better outcomes for stroke patients in Greater Manchester.
We believe they will give people a greater chance of survival and will aid peoples recovery from stroke.
Weve listened carefully to the views of groups which represent and support stroke patients become implementing these changes.
They are fully behind the plans as they believe they will ensure all patients have access to the best possible treatment in the critical initial period after having a stroke.
Since 2010, patients calling 999 within four hours of having a stroke have been taken to Salford Royal, Stepping Hill or Fairfield for emergency clot busting drugs and immediate brain scans.
But those people accounted for less than a third of all emergency patients, with those over four hours being taken by ambulance to the district stroke units instead.
Read more:
Centralised stroke services could save up to 50 patients per year under 2m NHS shake-up