Plans include improvements to prevent strokes in those who have had warning signs and to get faster treatment to those who have suffered a stroke – to aid their recovery.

Dr James McIlmoyle, clinical lead for stroke medicine at The Vic, hopes Blackpool will soon offer some of the best services in the country after introducing a service for Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) – sometimes called a mini-stroke, which is often a warning sign before someone has a full stroke.

He said: "40 per cent of strokes are preceded by a TIA. If we can get to see and treat someone within 48 hours, the chance of them suffering a full stroke can be reduced by between 50 and 80 per cent.

"We started the clinic in October last year, allowing patients to be seen within a couple of days, and found the demand far outstripped supply."

He plans to increase the clinic to five days a week and has drafted in a third consultant to ensure high-risk patients are seen within 24 hours with others brought in within 48 hours.

The stroke team – which sees about 650 patients on year – will also try to minimise the damage when someone has already suffered a stroke.

Blackpool is currently a pilot site for Thrombolysis – or clot-busting drugs which have seen improvements in one in three patients – but plans are in the pipeline to extend it to a full-time service from September.

Dr McIlmoyle said: "That would really put Blackpool at the forefront of stroke services.

"It could mean the difference between someone being able to live in their own home with help, rather than living in a residential home.

"We hope with this two-pronged attack we can help prevent strokes and then give people the best treatment if they do have one."

Carole Wadsworth, 67, from Bispham, a patient on the Stroke Unit, knows first-hand how important it is to get fast treatment following a stroke.

She is now able to walk again after being given thrombolysis straight away at The Vic.

She said: "As soon as I was brought into hospital, I had a CT scan and they found a clot, so they gave me a clot-busting drug. I am very grateful for receiving this treatment as without it I could have been paralysed."

Michael Jack, MP for Fylde, has lobbied for changes to the service.

He said: "It seems we are making real progress here and improvements in patient care. Stroke is a very serious condition.

"It look as though we are going to have a very good service on the Fylde coast."