Grafton man puts stroke on the election agenda

Grafton local Bob Carnaby has urged local Member of Parliament Chris Gulaptis to deliver better health services and give residents a fair go at life after stroke. 

Bob met with the Clarence MP last week and is aiming to speak to all local candidates in the lead up to the March 23 state election. 

The 73 year old is passionate about stemming the tide of stroke after seeing the devastation the disease caused a much loved family member.

“Stroke attacks the brain, the human control centre. It happens in an instant and changes lives forever,” Bob said.

“Yet with the right treatment at the right time many people can recover from stroke. The issue is not all the people of our state have access to specialist stroke treatment.

“As regional NSW residents we are not only more likely to experience a stroke than our city counterparts, we are also more likely to die or be left with serious disability as a result. 

“I hope my family’s experience can highlight to our next local MP the true impact of this devastating disease on everyday people and their families, and the need for action,” he said. 

Research shows New South Wales (NSW) is home to 12 of the country’s top 20 hotspots for stroke incidence. Ten of these are in rural and regional areas of the state, including the federal electorates of Cowper and Page. 

“It worries me there will be almost 19,000 strokes in New South Wales in 2019,” Bob added.

“People in rural and regional areas deserve the same access to best-practice stroke treatment and care as people in the city to have the greatest chance of a good recovery after stroke.”

Stroke Foundation New South Wales State Manager Rhian Paton-Kelly said the next NSW Government had the opportunity to deliver better stroke services to all the people of the state.

“We are standing with local stroke survivors, their families, health professionals and researchers to call for a fairer health system, delivering equality for all the people of NSW, and the opportunity for those affected by stroke to survive and live well.”

Stroke Foundation is calling on the next State Government to invest $5.58 million (over four years) in:
1. F.A.S.T. community education to reduce stroke and speed up treatment.
2. State-wide stroke telehealth network and treatment pathway.
3. Stroke Ambulance.
4. Stroke Outreach Program (StOP): empowering survivors to act to prevent further stroke and live well.