Improving stroke care – New England

12 February, 2008

Stroke patients across the New England region will have access to better care with the launch of a dedicated stroke service based at Armidale Hospital.

The establishment of the service is one of seven to be established in regional NSW as part of the Rural Stroke Project.

In 2007/08, Hunter New England Health received $232,000 recurrent funding for services in the Northern part of the region, which not only focuses on a patient’s admission to the Emergency Department - but right through to rehabilitation and reintegration back into the community.

This investment has allowed for the employment of a full-time Stroke Care Co-ordinator Alex Little who will implement strategies which will improve care across the McIntyre and Tablelands clusters.

Alex will be responsible for linking stroke services together for people in towns such as Glenn Innes, Guyra, Armidale and Tenterfield - to ensure that no matter where you live, there’s a seamless passage for the patient’s treatment.

“We’ve identified there are a number of challenges facing stroke services in the McIntyre and Tablelands clusters, particularly the limited education and training opportunities which health care providers and local communities have been able to access up until now. Another challenge to overcome is the sparse location of professionals with specialist skills in stroke care,” Ms Little said.

“Stroke survivors often have a diverse range of needs following stroke and it is essential that they have access to locally-based health professionals who are suitably skilled in providing appropriate services to the patient and their family.

“Stroke is the second largest killer in Australia and one of the leading causes of disability among adults. Each year across Australia, more than 53,000 strokes occur, which is one every 10 minutes. Thanks to the Rural Stroke Project we can now start looking at those issues to the betterment of stroke care,” Ms Little said

“This funding will enable stroke patients in this area to achieve the best possible outcomes following stroke through the provision of specialist localised care,” Ms Little said.

“This is an exciting enhancement which will provide significant benefits for people with stroke in North West NSW,” Ms Little said.

Stroke services will also be established in Bathurst, Orange, Dubbo, Port Macquarie, Wagga Wagga and Shoalhaven.

Contact: Emma Gibbs

Phone: 6767 7137 or 0428 114 767