Revealed: Where you can get the best stroke treatment in Australia

The World Stroke Organisation has named Australia’s top hospital for stroke treatment and the answer might surprise you.

Australia’s best stroke treatment isn’t to be found at an illustrious city hospital but in the heart of the country at Wagga Wagga Base Hospital.

The regional healthcare facility has been lauded as the best in the nation for stoke treatment — becoming the first unit of this kind to receive the prestigious World Stroke Organisation Angels Gold Status Award for their quality of care.

The award – given to hospitals which match global benchmarks for stroke treatment best practice — is a massive honour for regional healthcare.

Experts said Wagga Wagga had overcome the rural health gap through investment in training and retaining staff.

Dennis Jewell, 58, was treated at Wagga Base Hospital for a stroke and is full of praise for the staff and the treatment he received. Picture: Brad Newman

The hospital’s stroke unit head Associate Professor Martin Jude said staff retention could be a big barrier for regional healthcare.

“We know stroke is more likely in regional Australia and there are major gaps in the care in these areas. We have a medium-sized unit where there has been a lot of stability in staffing,” he said.

“We still have one of the original stroke co-ordinators with us.”

The hospital treats up to 450 stroke admissions each year and more than 70 per cent of eligible patients receive lifesaving clot busting therapy within 60 minutes of arriving at the hospital door.

“We have invested in education and training, starting with Ambulance, Emergency Department, radiology and all members of the stroke unit team, meaning stroke symptoms are recognised rapidly and we’re able to deliver the right treatment at the right time,” Prof Jude said.

Wagga Wagga Base Hospital has been recognised with the World Stroke Organisation Angels Gold Status Award. Picture: AAP/Michael Frogley

Regional Australians are 17 per cent more likely to suffer a stroke than their city counterparts, recent data from the Stroke Foundation found.

Prof Jude said the award would help change the view that patients get poorer levels of care in regional areas.

“It just shows that yes there are barriers but there is no reason you can’t achieve those high levels of care,” he said

Australian Medical Association NSW President Dr Danielle McMullen said the hospital had consistently performed well in all areas.

“This hospital has performed really well in our hospital health check over the past few years. The whole hospital takes their teaching and training very seriously,” she said.

West Wyalong man Dennis Jewell had an acute stroke and was treated at Wagga Wagga hospital at the start of the year.

Within two of hours of his stoke, the 58-year-old had received clot busting treatment and within a few days he was ready for rehab and to return home.

“They are brilliant, it is the epitome of teamwork. Wagga has top level care and they make the best of what we have available with their incredible staff,” he said.