New lifesaving telestroke service for regional Queensland

• A new $5.8M virtual telestroke service will be rolled out through regional and remote Queensland
• People in regional and remote Queensland are 17% more likely to experience a stroke
• The service will help provide faster diagnosis and treatment for stroke, which is critical for recovery

Millions of regional and remote Queenslanders will have better access to lifesaving stroke diagnosis and treatment through a new $5.8 million virtual telestroke service.

The Palaszczuk Government has committed to the telestroke service to ensure patients in rural and regional hospitals have the same access to stroke specialists as Queenslanders in metropolitan areas.

It will allow stroke specialists to assess brain scans and view patients remotely via video to effectively diagnose and decide on a treatment plan as quickly as possible.

Regional and rural Queenslanders are disproportionally impacted by stroke, and patients who are diagnosed and treated as quickly as possible have a greater chance of recovery. 

Queensland Health will develop the virtual telestroke service, which will be available for patients in 2024.

The telestroke service will support approximately two million Queenslanders who live in regional and rural areas that have minimal or no stroke specialist coverage locally to manage acute stroke presentations.

Stroke is a serious medical emergency that occurs when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted or reduced. Approximately 4,000 Queenslanders will experience a stroke this year.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services and Women, Shannon Fentiman:

“We know regional and rural communities are significantly impacted by stroke, with Queenslanders living in these areas 17 per cent more likely to experience a stroke than those living in metropolitan areas.

“The decentralised nature of Queensland poses specific healthcare challenges, and this includes ensuring time-critical care for stroke patients.

“We believe all Queenslanders should have access to life-saving medical services regardless of their location.

“This is a game-changer in the ability of Queensland Health to rapidly treat stroke patients, which can make all the difference in improving a patient’s quality of life and reducing the risk of long-term disability.

“It will also help accelerate access to highly effective stroke therapies, such as clot dissolving drugs or clot retrieval procedures, which require access to a stroke specialist.”

Quotes attributable to CEO Stroke Foundation, Dr Lisa Murphy

“We applaud the Queensland Government’s decision to implement Telestroke and know it will go a long way in giving people impacted by stroke in Queensland the best chance of survival and a good recovery.

“It is critical that Australians, regardless of their postcode, have access to equitable and immediate stroke treatment and that’s exactly what Queensland Telestroke service will deliver.

“Access to Telestroke both increases the rate of thrombolysis administered in regional hospitals and increases the speed at which this time-critical treatment is given. This translates to less death and disability following stroke.”

ENDS

Media contact: Asaesja Young – 0423 339 899