Victoria's second specialist stroke ambulance is bringing groundbreaking pre-hospital care to stroke patients in Melbourne's south-east.
The second Mobile Stroke Unit (MSU) is based in Dandenong, adding to the first MSU which operates within 20 kilometres of the Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH).
A Mobile Stroke Unit vehicle.
The MSUs are custom-built, specialist vehicles that allow stroke patients to receive hospital-grade assessment and treatment in the field, rather than waiting to arrive at a hospital.
They are fitted with the latest diagnostic technology including a CT scanner, telemedicine equipment and mobile laboratory.
Ambulance Victoria (AV) Interim Chief Executive Officer Andrew Crisp AM APM said it's transforming stroke care.
"We're proud to be working in partnership on these revolutionary vehicles which are changing patient outcomes for the better across Melbourne," he said.
"With stroke, every minute counts, and the sooner our paramedics arrive, and treatment begins, the better a patient's chance of surviving and maintaining a good quality of life.
"The MSU team can perform a CT scan in the ambulance in as little as six minutes, leading to much faster diagnosis and commencement of treatment.
"Improving stroke outcomes for our patients is an ongoing focus at AV and we are proud of the innovative work we do with the RMH in this field."
The Mobile Stroke Unit project is chaired by Professor Stephen Davis and Professor Geoffrey Donnan, co-chairs of the Australian Stroke Alliance.
The MSU initiative is a collaboration between AV, RMH, the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, the National Stroke Foundation, the RMH Neuroscience Foundation, the Victorian Government, and the National Health and Medical Research Council.
MSUs are staffed by special stroke teams consisting of a neurologist, stroke nurse, radiographer and two paramedics (including a Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance (MICA) paramedic).
The specialist crews also have virtual on-board access to a stroke neurologist based at the RMH.
A person suffers a stroke every 19 minutes in Australia. It's one of Victoria's biggest killers and a leading cause of disability.
AV Melbourne Senior Team Manager Leigh Branagan said stroke is always a medical emergency.
"A stroke happens when the blood supply carrying oxygen and nutrients to the brain is interrupted," he said.
"Stroke can happen to anybody, at any age, and the longer a stroke remains untreated, the greater the chance of stroke-related brain damage.
"Time is critical and I urge every Victorian to learn the F.A.S.T. signs of stroke."
F.A.S.T. signs of stroke account for 80 per cent of stroke symptoms:
- F IS FOR FACE: Check their FACE. Has their mouth drooped?
- A IS FOR ARMS: Can they lift both ARMS?
- S IS FOR SPEECH: Is their SPEECH slurred? Do they understand you?
- T IS FOR TIME: TIME is critical. If you see any of these signs, call 000 immediately.
Victoria's second MSU is based at AV's Super Response Centre in Dandenong, with Monash Health the primary receiving hospital.
The first MSU has treated an average of seven patients per day since it hit the road in November 2017.
