MACKAY Base Hospital’s stroke team has been recognised as one of the best in the country for the second time in the past three years.
A total of 12 hospitals were recognised for their high standard of care at the Australian Stroke Coalition Quality Stroke Service Excellence Awards last week, and the Mackay team also scored the award in 2020.
The stroke team’s nurse navigator Anne Hooper said strong communication helped them provide quality care for patients.
“What this means really is that stroke patients here in Mackay are getting the best care of anywhere in the country,” Ms Hooper said.
“It’s been very tough during COVID so it’s a great achievement for a small regional hospital.”
Stroke recovery can be a complex process and involves a team of medical, nursing and allied health clinicians to plan a patient’s rehabilitation and progress their recovery.
The awards recognised hospitals that achieved best-practice stroke clinical care across several indicators, including treatment with thrombolysis within 60 minutes of hospital arrival, the provision of stroke unit care, and the provision of a discharge care plan.
Education – Know the signs of stroke:
- Many people don’t initially recognise they are having a stroke and so wait before coming to hospital.
- When a stroke happens, more than 1.9 million brain cells die each minute. The longer a stroke remains untreated, the greater the chance of stroke-related brain damage.
- Everyone needs to know the F.A.S.T. signs of stroke, no matter how young or old. Knowing the signs could help you save a life – possibly even your own.
Recognise Stroke, think F.A.S.T:
- Face Check their face. Has their mouth drooped?
- Arms Can they lift both arms?
- Speech Is their speech slurred? Do they understand you?
- Time Is critical. If you see any of these signs call 000 straight away.
