Nearly 250 stroke cases present at Bendigo Hospital each year, a figure that continues to rise as the population grows and ages. Data shows that people living in regional Victoria are 17 times more likely to experience a stroke, but have less access to best-practice stroke care.
Bendigo Health’s Stroke Team has been part of an 18-month Safer Care Victoria (SCV) initiative involving more than 17 health services and Ambulance Victoria, aimed at making stroke care faster and more efficient. The ‘Enhancing Stroke Care Collaborative’ ran from 2024 to June this year.
Bendigo Health Stroke Coordinator, Lucille Monahan explains “For every minute saved in receiving treatment, we save that patient a day in rehabilitation.”
“Our primary goal was to reduce the time taken to diagnosis and stroke treatment, measured in minutes between arrival and CT, administration of medication, or transferral to tertiary hospitals.”
Lucille adds, “Behind the scenes, the team built strong systems to keep improvements on track. Clear roles, regular progress checks, and a focus on turning ideas into action meant that every step forward counted.”
In 2024, Bendigo Health’s median Door-To-Needle (DTN) time was 92 minutes. By the end of the project, that figure had dropped to just 59 minutes.
This achievement led to Bendigo Health receiving Safer Care Victoria’s award for Outstanding and Sustainable Improvement.
SCV noted “Your success shows the power of strong leadership, teamwork, and a focus on doing what’s best for patients. You’ve set a great example for other regional services across Victoria and shown that big improvements are possible with the right approach.”
“Congratulations to everyone involved. Your hard work has made a real difference to patients, families, and the wider community.”