SOUTHEND Hospital should be designated as one of three specialist “super” stroke units for Essex, a senior doctor and councillor has said.

Long-serving Westcliff GP Dr Marimuthu Velmurugan has called on the Essex Stroke Review Board to recommend the hospital be made one of three hyper-acute stoke units in the county this month, in a bid to boost survival rates.

Dr Vel, as he is known, an independent councillor for Westborough, said: “The stroke unit at Southend Hospital is not just the best locally or nationally–it’s the best in the world.”

The review board is expected to recommend Southend, Colchester and Mid Essex hospitals are designated stroke specialists this month after a two-year review of services across the country. Basildon is also in the running for the accolade, which would unlock extra funding.

Dr Paul Guyler, lead stroke consultant at the hospital, said: “We are delighted that our award-winning stroke service has been recommended to become one of three hyper acute stroke services in Essex.”