Territorians will now be able to access more stroke services in Darwin and Alice Springs.
Top End residents can now access additional specialised stroke care, with Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH) joining the South Australia (SA) Telestroke service after-hours.
The service allows neurologists based in Adelaide to provide fast consultation for patients with suspected stroke using videoconferencing technology, delivered in partnership with South Australia’s Rural Support Service (RSS).
RDH already provides 24/7 care for stroke, and joining the SA Telestroke network enables all patients with acute stroke needs to receive additional support through highly specialised care and expertise after-hours.
Telestroke links staff virtually with specialist stroke doctors, helping to save lives and improving health outcomes.
Alice Springs Hospital (ASH) has been a part of the SA Telestroke Service since 2019. Since that time, there have been over 180 calls and more than 15 patients have received thrombolysis treatment.
ASH is now one of nine regional hospitals across Australia that are accredited Stroke Capable Regional Hospitals as part of a new certification program designed to improve stroke care. This is the culmination of four years of work to improve stroke capability at ASH, which began with joining the SA Telestroke Service.
Key to achieving the certification was the creation of a Stroke Clinical Care Nurse Coordinator, a role which is now in place to provide specialist care for patients and their families.
Working with the Stroke Society of Australasia, the Stroke Foundation has introduced the pilot accreditation program for regional hospitals.
The accreditation reflects that a hospital meets a set of national stroke care criteria, which includes caring for all stroke patients on a single dedicated ward with specialist staffing, regular training, data monitoring and improvement, as well as patient involvement in decision making.
Quotes attributable to Chief Minister and Minister for Health Natasha Fyles:
“The Territory Labor Government prioritises high-quality health care for all Territorians – no matter where you live.
“Stroke is a time-critical medical emergency and determining a patient’s stroke type and treatment options quickly is crucial. Telestroke helps physicians at RDH and ASH connect with expert stroke clinicians to determine the most appropriate treatment for each patient.
“The accreditation of the Alice Springs Hospital by the Stroke Foundation, proves that we have the capability to provide excellent clinical care for Territorians who have experienced a stroke, while also being able to provide the rehabilitation services.”
Quotes attributable to South Australian Minister for Health and Wellbeing, Chris Picton:
“We’re delighted to be partnering with the Territory Government to deliver this lifesaving treatment. Every minute counts with a stroke, and the faster we can deliver treatment, the better, to help save lives.
“In the first year, we have already seen much better outcomes for patients who have experienced stroke across the Northern Territory and regional South Australia.
“This program – along with better education – is enabling patients to receive lifesaving treatment up to 30 minutes faster – saving the equivalent of 2.5 years of brain ageing.”
Northern Territory Government
