❓ Ms. Hamilton asks about the new stroke unit at Joondalup Health Campus and its impact on the community and the hospital's redevelopment. The Minister for Health responds positively, highlighting the benefits and acknowledging key contributors.
AnsweredQoN 228Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
JOONDALUP HEALTH CAMPUS —
STROKE UNIT
228. Ms E. HAMILTON to the Minister for Health:
I refer to the commitment by the
McGowan Labor government to open a new stroke unit at Joondalup Health Campus,
a commitment that the government delivered last week that has been well
received by my community.
(1) Can the
minister advise the house how this new unit will provide care close to home for
patients in the northern suburbs?
(2) Can the
minister outline to the house how the new stroke unit will support this
government's $158 million redevelopment of Joondalup Health Campus?
STROKE UNIT
228. Ms E. HAMILTON to the Minister for Health:
I refer to the commitment by the
McGowan Labor government to open a new stroke unit at Joondalup Health Campus,
a commitment that the government delivered last week that has been well
received by my community.
(1) Can the
minister advise the house how this new unit will provide care close to home for
patients in the northern suburbs?
(2) Can the
minister outline to the house how the new stroke unit will support this
government's $158 million redevelopment of Joondalup Health Campus?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the rather triumphant member for Joondalup for the question, and I congratulate
her for this outstanding development in, once again, the McGowan government
keeping its election commitments. For many years people of the northern suburbs
lacked for a stroke unit in the northern suburbs, so I am delighted to say that
the McGowan government just the other day delivered once again on its election
commitments and opened the new 12-bed stroke unit at Joondalup Health Campus.
Many members will not be aware, but strokes kill more women than breast cancer
and more men than prostate cancer. It is the leading cause of disability in our
community. It is important that we have these services close to where people
live in their communities, so that they can get the help they need when they
need it.
This
12-bed unit has a co-located therapy space, which includes a gymnasium and
functional training unit where patients have the opportunity to undertake
therapeutic activities to help them maximise their potential for daily living,
remembering that a lot of the patients who are recovering from a stroke have to
learn to do everyday tasks once again. This is a terrific outcome for that
community. In 2018, Joondalup Health Campus treated about 200 stroke patients
in general medical wards. This number is expected to rise in the future. The
opportunity to now treat patients in a specialised unit at Joondalup hospital
is a terrific outcome for the people of that community. The stroke service at
Joondalup Health Campus now includes two outpatient clinics—one that
will focus on medical follow-up and another that will provide specialist allied
health rehabilitation services, such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy,
speech therapy and dietetics.
This is the fifth stroke unit in WA, and
its availability will cut travel time by an hour each way for patients who
would otherwise need to attend Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital or Fiona Stanley
Hospital. When a person has a stroke, time is brain. It is important that we
get help to them as quickly as possible. For every minute that treatment is
delayed following a stroke, up to 1.9 million brain cells die. Therefore,
having this stroke unit at Joondalup hospital is a really important initiative.
I congratulate Dr Andrew Wesseldine,
the director of the WA stroke services project. I also want to congratulate the
folks of the northern suburbs stroke support group, and particularly Sally
Allen and Lara Cole, who have campaigned tirelessly for this unit. I want to do
a big shout-out to the former member for Joondalup, Tony O'Gorman. Tony
was responsible for sponsoring a campaign when he was elected. If it had not
been for some rather sad political turn in 2007, we would have had this stroke
unit in 2009. If the people of the northern suburbs are wondering whom to vote
for in the seat of Moore, clearly they know
that in Tony O'Gorman they will have someone who listens to the
community and acts on their behalf.
Several members interjected.
Mr R.H. COOK : Just to be
slightly political for a second!
The SPEAKER : I am sure the
minister will get back to the topic.
Mr R.H. COOK : Of course, this
comes ahead of the work we are doing to redevelop the Joondalup hospital—the
$158 million commitment we made at the last state election to bring Joondalup
Health Campus up to the next stage of development, to increase the number of
inpatient beds and mental health beds at that hospital in particular, so that it can continue to provide great health
services for the people in the community. Congratulations to all involved.
thank the rather triumphant member for Joondalup for the question, and I congratulate
her for this outstanding development in, once again, the McGowan government
keeping its election commitments. For many years people of the northern suburbs
lacked for a stroke unit in the northern suburbs, so I am delighted to say that
the McGowan government just the other day delivered once again on its election
commitments and opened the new 12-bed stroke unit at Joondalup Health Campus.
Many members will not be aware, but strokes kill more women than breast cancer
and more men than prostate cancer. It is the leading cause of disability in our
community. It is important that we have these services close to where people
live in their communities, so that they can get the help they need when they
need it.
This
12-bed unit has a co-located therapy space, which includes a gymnasium and
functional training unit where patients have the opportunity to undertake
therapeutic activities to help them maximise their potential for daily living,
remembering that a lot of the patients who are recovering from a stroke have to
learn to do everyday tasks once again. This is a terrific outcome for that
community. In 2018, Joondalup Health Campus treated about 200 stroke patients
in general medical wards. This number is expected to rise in the future. The
opportunity to now treat patients in a specialised unit at Joondalup hospital
is a terrific outcome for the people of that community. The stroke service at
Joondalup Health Campus now includes two outpatient clinics—one that
will focus on medical follow-up and another that will provide specialist allied
health rehabilitation services, such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy,
speech therapy and dietetics.
This is the fifth stroke unit in WA, and
its availability will cut travel time by an hour each way for patients who
would otherwise need to attend Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital or Fiona Stanley
Hospital. When a person has a stroke, time is brain. It is important that we
get help to them as quickly as possible. For every minute that treatment is
delayed following a stroke, up to 1.9 million brain cells die. Therefore,
having this stroke unit at Joondalup hospital is a really important initiative.
I congratulate Dr Andrew Wesseldine,
the director of the WA stroke services project. I also want to congratulate the
folks of the northern suburbs stroke support group, and particularly Sally
Allen and Lara Cole, who have campaigned tirelessly for this unit. I want to do
a big shout-out to the former member for Joondalup, Tony O'Gorman. Tony
was responsible for sponsoring a campaign when he was elected. If it had not
been for some rather sad political turn in 2007, we would have had this stroke
unit in 2009. If the people of the northern suburbs are wondering whom to vote
for in the seat of Moore, clearly they know
that in Tony O'Gorman they will have someone who listens to the
community and acts on their behalf.
Several members interjected.
Mr R.H. COOK : Just to be
slightly political for a second!
The SPEAKER : I am sure the
minister will get back to the topic.
Mr R.H. COOK : Of course, this
comes ahead of the work we are doing to redevelop the Joondalup hospital—the
$158 million commitment we made at the last state election to bring Joondalup
Health Campus up to the next stage of development, to increase the number of
inpatient beds and mental health beds at that hospital in particular, so that it can continue to provide great health
services for the people in the community. Congratulations to all involved.
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