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New Acute Stroke Unit for Tamworth Hospital
16 September 2008
Stroke patients will receive more streamlined, intensive clinical care with the opening of a new Acute Stroke Unit at Tamworth Hospital tomorrow (17 September).
Hunter New England Health has dedicated four beds in the hospital’s medical ward for stroke patients in need of highly-specialised treatment during the early stages of their care.
General Manager of Tamworth and Armidale hospitals Fergus Fitzsimons said the opening of the unit was a considerable step in improving services for Tamworth and the average 151 stroke patients who are admitted to Tamworth Hospital each year.
“Historically stroke patients have been cared for in the medical ward, but will now be managed in the Acute Stroke Unit so our specialised nursing and allied health staff can conduct more intensive monitoring, observation and treatment,” Mr Fitzsimons said.
“The restructure of the ward will also allow staff with experience and knowledge in stroke management to more constructively use their skills to ensure patients receive the highest standard of care possible.”
The addition of the Acute Stroke Unit will support the new and improved evidence-based stroke services recently introduced to the region through the NSW Rural Stroke Project.
Funding through the Project has also allowed for the employment of full-time Stroke Care Co-ordinator Rachel Peake, based at Tamworth, who is putting strategies in place to improve stroke care across the Peel and Mehi Clusters, which include communities such as Walcha, Gunnedah, Tamworth, Moree and Narrabri.
Ms Peake said the opening of the Acute Stroke Unit was a milestone for the area’s stroke services.
“For about three now we’ve been looking at how services have traditionally operated and how they can be changed to allow more people to receive appropriate care as soon as possible,” Ms Peake said.
“Stroke patients have a much better rate of recovery with good access to more specialised acute stroke care.
“By changing the way our services interlink and work together – from the ambulance officers who retrieve the person to Tamworth Hospital’s acute care staff – we can significantly improve a patient’s recovery after a stroke.”
Tamworth Hospital’s new Acute Stroke Unit will be officially opened Wednesday 17 September at 9.30am. Media are invited to attend for interviews, photographs and footage.
Contact: Emma Gibbs
Phone: (02) 6767 7137 or 0428 114 767
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