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MBH nurse navigator Helen Nengasha, Dr Belinda Weich, Dr Maduka Sanjeewa and Dr Mehul Desai. Photo supplied: Mackay Base Hospital
Mackay stroke patients are set to benefit from nationally recognised specialist care close to home after Mackay Base Hospital became one of just six Queensland hospitals certified as a primary stroke centre.
The hospital is only the second regional facility in Queensland to achieve certification under the Australian Stroke Coalition’s Stroke Unit Certification Project.
Around 190 stroke patients are treated at Mackay Base Hospital each year, with evidence showing treatment in a certified stroke unit can significantly reduce the risk of death or disability.
Mackay Hospital and Health Service Chief Executive Sean Birgan said the four-year certification recognised the expertise and dedication of the hospital’s multidisciplinary stroke team while providing a foundation to further strengthen local services.
“This milestone is not simply about accreditation; it is a reflection of a team committed to providing safe, high-quality stroke care and achieving the best possible outcomes for Mackay region patients and their families,” Mr Birgan said.
Certification followed a rigorous peer-reviewed assessment of the hospital’s stroke services.
Nurse navigator Helen Nengasha said timely access to specialised treatment could make a life-changing difference for people experiencing a stroke.
The hospital’s capabilities include a dedicated stroke unit, specialised clinical expertise, thrombolysis, advanced imaging, multidisciplinary care, rehabilitation and ongoing quality improvement.
“By upskilling our nurses through dedicated stroke education and combining that expertise with a certified unit, we have significantly enhanced the quality of patient care,” Ms Nengasha said.
Mackay’s stroke team works alongside services including the Queensland Telestroke Service, Queensland Stroke Clinical Network and Stroke Foundation to access specialist expertise and continue improving regional care.
The team was previously recognised for its high standard of care at the Australian Stroke Coalition Quality Stroke Service Excellence Awards in 2020 and 2023.
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