Second life-saving stroke service hits the road
A new Mobile Stroke Unit doubles our reach across Melbourne
A second Mobile Stroke Unit is now serving Melbourne, thanks to a seasoned partnership between Royal Melbourne Hospital and Ambulance Victoria, and new partner, Monash Health.
Minister for Health, the Hon. Mary-Anne Thomas, launched the second MSU vehicle and dual service in early December.
The service, which has been operating for seven years, provides critical care to patients across Melbourne suspected of having a stroke, at their doorstep.
Currently, the MSU operates within a 20km radius of the Royal Melbourne. The second service will be based in the southeast near Dandenong, with Monash Health as the primary receival site.
Complete with the latest technology, the second vehicle will include a higher-tech CT scanner, larger space and virtual neurologist (based at the RMH).
Co-Chair of the Australian Stroke Alliance Professor Steve Davis AO said the MSU can detect blocked arteries and brain haemorrhages and begin treatment as quickly as possible. This time is crucial when treating stroke.
The beneficial impact of the MSU on patients’ lives has provided the proof required to drive the Stroke Alliance’s program across the country – developing lightweight brain scanners to travel in standard road and air ambulances. Ambulance Victoria is a principal partner and together, we aim to road test the brain scanners in the first half of 2025.
Patient Greg Hocking (centre) meets the Minister for Health and some members of the MSU team
Grandfather and passionate musician Greg Hocking knows just how vital the MSU is.
At the end of 2022, Greg suffered a stroke at his Moonee Ponds home.
One minute he was preparing for his latest show as a conductor for the Melbourne Opera, the next he began slurring and his body felt heavy.
Luckily, Greg’s wife quickly called an ambulance and the Mobile Stroke Unit was dispatched – arriving within the ‘Golden Hour’ to provide life-saving care and transport Greg to the RMH for treatment.
Greg spent much of last year at the RMH, undergoing rehabilitation and learning to swallow, eat and walk again.
And while the road to recovery hasn’t been easy, Greg is beyond grateful to be back on his feet and enjoying life again – including performing and playing with his grandchildren.
More than 10,000 people have been treated by the MSU service since it began.
About 20 per cent of those received clot-dissolving treatment within what’s known as the “Golden Hour” of stroke onset, compared to 1.5 per cent of patients transported and then treated in hospital.