Deaths and disability as thousands of Australians denied access to stroke care
October 29, 2013
Almost 12,000 Australians who suffer a stroke each year cannot access basic stroke care, resulting in an additional 700 people dying or being left disabled unnecessarily, according to the National Stroke Foundation’s 2013 Acute Services Audit.
The biennial audit of acute stroke care in Australia has also found access to stroke treatment and care in specialist centres over the past two years is not only failing to improve, it has actually fallen nationally. One-third (36%) of stroke patients in specialist centres are being denied access to dedicated stroke units, a six per cent increase since the last audit in 2011.
National Stroke Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Dr Erin Lalor, said this is despite the fact stroke units are known to play a crucial role in saving lives and reducing disability.
“Stroke unit care should be accessible for the 140 people who suffer a stroke every day in Australia. We know this significantly improves a person’s chance of a good recovery and of going home to live independently. For those who don’t get best practice treatment, the alternative can be death or a lifetime of dependency on a carer.
“Yet right now, Australians who have a stroke do not have any guarantee that they will be able to receive the level of care that is required, and that should be available, to every individual.”
Stroke units provide patients with ongoing care by a multidisciplinary team including doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, speech and occupational therapists who can provide active care in the early stages of a stroke.
Access to stroke units was poorest in Western Australia where two-thirds (65%) of patients missed out on specialist care, while Tasmania had the best access with only one-fifth (22%) not receiving specialist care.
National Stroke Foundation Clinical Council Member, Professor Christopher Levi said while there is a need to improve the quality of stroke units across the nation, the reality is stroke units are being pared back or even abolished in some hospitals.
“This is despite the fact that survival and reduced disability rates for stroke patients improves dramatically when they are evaluated and treated on a stroke unit in a hospital. Urgent action is needed to improve the status quo.”
Stroke is Australia’s second biggest killer and a major cause of disability,[1] with 50,000 new and recurrent strokes occurring each year in Australia.
Dr Lalor added, “Improving access to stroke units will reduce the number of deaths and disabilities. When you get best practice care in a stroke unit you are more likely to go home alive. You are more likely to go home independent. You are less likely to need nursing home care.”
Yet two-in-five (42%) stroke patients continue to be treated on general wards, which appears to be a result of hospitals lacking bed space or encountering problems transferring patients to the specialist unit.
Dr Lalor concluded, “Our audit highlighted there are ongoing resource deficits that need to be addressed; hospitals need more beds in stroke units and support to ensure patients can access those beds. We know hospitals want to provide best practice care but they are hamstrung by lack of resources and there’s been little change in stroke services over a long period of time.
“It’s time for action. It’s time for the Federal Government to address the significant gaps in stroke services and support by providing funding to significantly improve the way stroke is managed in Australia.”
[1]Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2012. Australia’s Health 2012
The biennial audit of acute stroke care in Australia has also found access to stroke treatment and care in specialist centres over the past two years is not only failing to improve, it has actually fallen nationally. One-third (36%) of stroke patients in specialist centres are being denied access to dedicated stroke units, a six per cent increase since the last audit in 2011.
National Stroke Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Dr Erin Lalor, said this is despite the fact stroke units are known to play a crucial role in saving lives and reducing disability.
“Stroke unit care should be accessible for the 140 people who suffer a stroke every day in Australia. We know this significantly improves a person’s chance of a good recovery and of going home to live independently. For those who don’t get best practice treatment, the alternative can be death or a lifetime of dependency on a carer.
“Yet right now, Australians who have a stroke do not have any guarantee that they will be able to receive the level of care that is required, and that should be available, to every individual.”
Stroke units provide patients with ongoing care by a multidisciplinary team including doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, speech and occupational therapists who can provide active care in the early stages of a stroke.
Access to stroke units was poorest in Western Australia where two-thirds (65%) of patients missed out on specialist care, while Tasmania had the best access with only one-fifth (22%) not receiving specialist care.
National Stroke Foundation Clinical Council Member, Professor Christopher Levi said while there is a need to improve the quality of stroke units across the nation, the reality is stroke units are being pared back or even abolished in some hospitals.
“This is despite the fact that survival and reduced disability rates for stroke patients improves dramatically when they are evaluated and treated on a stroke unit in a hospital. Urgent action is needed to improve the status quo.”
Stroke is Australia’s second biggest killer and a major cause of disability,[1] with 50,000 new and recurrent strokes occurring each year in Australia.
Dr Lalor added, “Improving access to stroke units will reduce the number of deaths and disabilities. When you get best practice care in a stroke unit you are more likely to go home alive. You are more likely to go home independent. You are less likely to need nursing home care.”
Yet two-in-five (42%) stroke patients continue to be treated on general wards, which appears to be a result of hospitals lacking bed space or encountering problems transferring patients to the specialist unit.
Dr Lalor concluded, “Our audit highlighted there are ongoing resource deficits that need to be addressed; hospitals need more beds in stroke units and support to ensure patients can access those beds. We know hospitals want to provide best practice care but they are hamstrung by lack of resources and there’s been little change in stroke services over a long period of time.
“It’s time for action. It’s time for the Federal Government to address the significant gaps in stroke services and support by providing funding to significantly improve the way stroke is managed in Australia.”
[1]Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2012. Australia’s Health 2012