Stroke unit care
After a stroke, one of the most important treatments a person can receive is care in a dedicated stroke unit.
A stroke unit is not just a regular hospital ward. It is a specialised area where patients are cared for by an expert team of doctors, nurses and allied health professionals, such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech pathologists.
Research shows that people who are treated in a stroke unit have better outcomes than those treated in a general hospital ward. This is true regardless of the type of stroke, its cause, or how severe it is. Stroke unit teams understand the complex changes that occur in the brain during a stroke, as well as the physical, cognitive and emotional challenges that can follow. By working together, the team can support patient recovery, reduce complications and help lower the risk of another stroke.
However, not all hospitals provide specialised stroke care. For this reason, it is important that patients are taken to the hospital best equipped to treat them—even if it is not the closest hospital.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare is currently developing an interactive map of stroke hospitals across Australia. This map will allow people to see how far away specialised stroke care is from their location. However, stroke is a medical emergency. Never attempt to drive someone who may be having a stroke to hospital. Always call an ambulance. Paramedics are trained to identify stroke and will take patients to the most appropriate stroke centre. They can also begin assessments and provide critical care while on the way to hospital.
Stroke Unit Certification Program
To help ensure Australians receive the highest standard of stroke care, the Australian Stroke Coalition has established the Stroke Unit Certification Program. This program is recommended by several international and Australian organisations, including the World Health Organization, the World Stroke Organization, the American Heart Association, and the Australian Government’s National Strategic Action Plan for Heart Disease and Stroke. The Stroke Foundation is a proud partner of this important program.
The Stroke Unit Certification Program assesses hospital stroke services against comprehensive national standards. Hospitals that meet certification standards demonstrate excellence in stroke care, providing a level of confidence and reassurance to patients and their families. A list of hospitals that have been certified can be viewed on the Australian Stroke Coalition website.
Hospitals with stroke services
This list shows hospitals across Australia that can care for people experiencing a stroke. This list includes both certified and non-certified stroke centres. For a list of certified stroke centres, please visit the Australian Stroke Coalition website.
The care provided at the hospitals listed below may include initial assessment and stabilisation, emergency treatment, and/or further care in hospital.
Australian Capital Territory
- The Canberra Hospital
- Calvary Hospital (now North Canberra Hospital)
New South Wales
- Albury-Wodonga Health Service (Albury)
- Armidale Hospital
- Bankstown Hospital
- Batemans Bay Hospital
- Bathurst Base Hospital
- Bega-South East Regional Hospital
- Belmont Hospital
- Blacktown Hospital
- Blue Mountains District ANZAC Memorial Hospital Katoomba
- Bowral Hospital
- Broken Hill Base Hospital
- Calvary Mater Newcastle Hospital
- Campbelltown Hospital
- Coffs Harbour Health Campus
- Concord Hospital
- Cooma Hospital
- Deniliquin Hospital and Health Services
- Dubbo Base Hospital
- Fairfield Hospital
- Gosford Hospital
- Goulburn Hospital
- Grafton Base Hospital
- Griffith Base Hospital
- Hornsby Ku-ring-Gai Hospital
- John Hunter Hospital
- Lismore Hospital
- Lithgow Hospital
- Liverpool Hospital
- Maitland Hospital
- Manning Base Hospital, Taree
- Moree District Hospital
- Moruya-Eurobodalla Health Service
- Nepean Hospital
- Northern Beaches Hospital
- Orange Base Hospital
- Port Macquarie Base Hospital
- Prince of Wales Hospital
- Royal North Shore Hospital
- Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
- Ryde Hospital
- Shoalhaven Hospital
- South East Regional Hospital (Bega)
- St George Public Hospital
- St Vincent's Hospital
- St Vincent’s Private Hospital Sydney
- Sutherland Hospital
- Sydney Adventist Hospital
- Tamworth Base Hospital
- The Tweed Hospital
- Wagga Wagga Base Hospital
- Westmead Hospital
- Wollongong Hospital
- Wyong Hospital
Northern Territory
- Alice Springs Hospital
- Royal Darwin Hospital
Queensland
- Atheron Hospital
- Bowen Hospital
- Bundaberg Hospital
- Caboolture Hospital
- Cairns Base Hospital
- Emerald Hospital
- Gladstone Hospital
- Gold Coast Hospital
- Gympie Hospital
- Hervey Bay Hospital
- Innisfail Hospital
- Ipswich Hospital
- Kingaroy Hospital
- Logan Hospital
- Mackay Hospital
- Mareeba Hospital
- Mater Hospital Brisbane
- Princess Alexandra Hospital
- Proserpine Hospital
- Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Hospital
- Redcliffe Hospital
- Redland Hospital
- Rockhampton Hospital
- Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital
- St Andrews War Memorial (private)
- Sunshine Coast University Hospital
- The Prince Charles Hospital
- Toowoomba Hospital
- Townsville University Hospital
- Warwick Hospital
- Wesley Hospital (private)
South Australia
- Flinders Medical Centre
- Lyell McEwin Hospital
- Mount Gambier Hospital
- Naracoorte Hospital
- Port Augusta Hospital
- Port Lincoln Hospital
- Port Pirie Hospital
- Riverland General Hospital (Berri)
- Royal Adelaide Hospital
- Wallaroo Hospital
- Whyalla Hospital
Tasmania
- Launceston General Hospital
- North West Regional Hospital
- Mersey Community Hospital
- Royal Hobart Hospital
Victoria
- Albury-Wodonga Health Service (Wodonga Campus)
- The Alfred Hospital
- The Austin Hospital
- Bairnsdale Hospital
- Bass Coast Health, Wonthaggi
- Bendigo Health Care Group
- Box Hill Hospital (Eastern Health)
- Cabrini (private) Health
- Central Gippsland Health Service (Sale Hospital)
- Echuca Regional Health
- Epworth Hospital (private)
- Grampians Health - Ballarat
- Grampians Health - Horsham
- Goulburn Valley Hospital, Shepparton
- Latrobe Regional Hospital
- Maroondah Hospital
- Mildura Base Hospital
- Monash Medical Centre (Clayton)
- Northeast Health Wangaratta
- Peninsula Health Frankston
- Royal Melbourne Hospital
- South West Healthcare (Warrnambool)
- St Vincent's Hospital
- The Northern Hospital (Epping)
- University Hospital Geelong (Barwon Health)
- Hamilton Base Hospital (Western District)
- Warragul Hospital
- Western Hospital Sunshine
- Werribee Mercy Hospital
Western Australia
- Albany Hospital
- Bunbury Hospital
- Busselton Hospital
- Fiona Stanley Hospital
- Geraldton Hospital
- Joondalup Hospital
- Kalgoorlie Hospital
- Royal Perth Hospital
- Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
- St John of God Midland Public Hospital