The NSW Telestroke project has been launched in New South Wales, transforming health care in rural and regional areas.
This life-saving service connects patients with stroke specialists through video, powered by Prince of Wales Hospital. They provide immediate 24/7 access to stroke diagnosis and treatment. The project has provided care to more than 3,000 stroke patients at 23 rural and district hospitals in the state.
Supported by NSW and Commonwealth governments, the A$21.7 million ($15 million) project was launched in partnership with eHealth NSW, the Agency for Clinical Innovation and the Ministry of Health, with support from the Stroke Foundation.
BECAUSE ITS VERY IMPORTANT
Stroke is one of the leading causes of death in Australia. In 2020, about 27,000 people in the country suffered a stroke for the first time. In the same year, it is estimated that stroke cost the country A$6.2 billion in economic terms. Now, almost half a million Australians are living with the effects of a stroke.
According to NSW Health Minister Bronnie Taylor, the telestroke service is vital to rural hospitals. It is estimated that people living in these areas are 17% more likely to have a stroke than those in big cities.
“Each year, around 19,000 people in NSW suffer a stroke, with more than a third of those admitted to hospital coming from rural areas,” the official said.
Telestroke is also recognized for its role in eliminating the global problem of stroke. Through this service, patients are seen and treated faster in community hospitals than their rural counterparts, Minister Taylor emphasized.
“Our doctors can provide better outcomes for patients presenting with stroke symptoms using this advanced technology – no matter where they are,” added Professor Ken Butcher, medical director of the NSW Telestroke Service and director of Clinical Neuroscience at the Prince of Wales Hospital.
GREAT EVENTS
The Western Australian Department of Health is now working to find its own telestroke service is running 24/7 as it enters the second phase of its implementation. This also comes as the project has seen significant demand from the South West and Great Southern regions.
