The Andrews Labor Government is supporting 16 new stroke care initiatives across Victoria to deliver the very latest advances in rehabilitation services for stroke survivors.
Metropolitan and regional hospitals will share in $1.4 million to complete projects that will significantly improve health outcomes and quality of life for patients recovering from a stroke.
The three-year long projects will see patients receive the world’s best practice care for stroke rehabilitation, based on the latest evidence and research.
The funding announcement coincides with National Stroke Week, which runs from 12-18 September.
About one in six people will suffer a stroke in their lifetime. In 2014, 2,954 Victorians died from the disease.
Stroke continues to be the biggest killer and leading cause of disability in Australia, causing more deaths than breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men.
Victorian hospitals treat more than 14,000 people for stroke and related conditions every year. About one third of these will require rehabilitation either in hospital or at home.
Hospitals receiving funding include Barwon Health, Eastern Health, Northern Health, Peninsula Health, St Vincent’s, the Victorian Paediatric Rehab Service, Northeast Health Wangaratta, Western Health, Bendigo Health, Werribee Mercy Hospital, Austin Health and Echuca Regional Health.
Projects include:
- Implementing new stroke care initiatives and sharing experiences with other health services to replicate projects across Victoria
- Delivering new models of care that will see stroke survivors leave hospital earlier and receive the very best care at home
- Developing better learning environments and therapy opportunities for patients in rehab, new web based educational tools and care guidelines for children with stroke
- Addressing depression, mood and cognitive challenges faced by stroke patients after they are discharged from hospital
- Telemedicine solutions to provide increases resources to patients in regional Victoria.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Jill Hennessy
“We’re putting patients first and ensuring stroke survivors can access the very best care, when they need it, closer to home.”
“We are supporting Victorian hospitals to be at the forefront of the latest advances – and world’s best practice – in stroke rehabilitation.”
“Stroke survivors across Victoria will benefit from rehabilitation services that will enable them to enjoy a better quality of life.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020