The NSW Telestroke service has been fully rolled out across New South Wales, transforming healthcare in rural and regional communities.
This life-saving service connects patients to a network of stroke specialists through video consultations, administered by Prince of Wales Hospital. It provides quick 24/7 access to stroke diagnosis and treatment. To date, the service has treated more than 3,000 stroke patients at 23 rural and regional hospitals in the state.
Co-funded by the NSW and Federal Government, the AU$21.7 million service (US$15 million) is launched in partnership with eHealth NSW, the Clinical Innovation Authority and Ministry of Health, with support from the Stroke Foundation.
WHY IT IMPORTANT
Stroke is one of the biggest killers in Australia. In 2020, about 27,000 people had a stroke in the country for the first time. In the same year, it was estimated that the stroke caused direct financial losses to the country of A$6.2 billion. Now, nearly half a million Australians are living with the consequences of a stroke.
According to NSW Regional Health Minister Bronnie Taylor, telestroke services are vital to hospitals in rural communities. It is said that people living in rural areas have a 17% higher risk of stroke than people living in big cities.
“Every year around 19,000 NSW residents have a stroke and more than a third of hospitalizations are from rural and rural areas,” the official added.
Telestroke is also considered to have a role to play in eliminating geographical challenges in the fight against stroke. Minister Taylor emphasized that through this service, patients are examined and treated faster at regional hospitals compared to hospitals in big cities.
“Our clinicians can deliver better outcomes for patients with signs of stroke by harnessing this innovative technology – regardless of location,” said Professor Ken Butcher, medical director of Telestroke Service NSW and director of Clinical Neuroscience at Prince of Wales Hospital.
TREND TO BIGGER WOMAN
Western Australia’s Department of Health is currently working to obtain telestroke service runs 24/7 as it enters the second deployment phase. This also happened when the service saw huge demand from the Southwest and Dai Nam regions.
