Regional and remote Queenslanders will soon have access to a life-saving service that will increase their chances of survival and a good recovery after having a stroke.
The Queensland Government today announced it will roll out a $5.8M Telestroke service which will provide survivors of stroke immediate access to Queensland’s best stroke specialist doctors for assessment and advice on initial treatments.
Stroke Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Dr Lisa Murphy, says this is a welcome and critical addition to Queensland’s current stroke services.
” We applaud the Queensland Government’s decision to implement Telestroke and know it will go a long way in giving people right across Queensland equal access to specialist stroke assessment and treatment.
Queensland Health’s Telestroke service, which will launch in 2024, will allow stroke specialists to review brain scans and assess patients remotely via video to diagnose and decide on a treatment plan as quickly as possible.
“Access to Telestroke both increases the rate of thrombolysis or clot busting medication, administered in regional hospitals and increases the speed at which this time-critical treatment is given. This translates to less death and disability following stroke,” Dr Murphy said.
The service will support approximately two million Queenslanders who live in regional and rural areas who have minimal or no stroke specialist coverage locally to manage acute stroke presentations.
“Regional Australians are 17 per cent more likely to experience a stroke than people living in metropolitan areas so it is critical that Australians, regardless of their postcode, have access to equitable and immediate stroke treatment and that’s exactly what Telestroke will deliver.”
The Stroke Foundation is proud to have been working with the Queensland Government for two decades providing support to hospital stroke teams to improve stroke care.
