The Ramsay Way 2019 | 02 13
Left to right: Health Minister Roger Cook, WA Stroke Director Dr Andrew Wesseldine, founder of the
Northern Suburbs Stroke Action Group Sally Allen, former JHC physio and stroke survivor
Robert Vander krat, neurologist and former Director General of Health Professor Bryant Stokes,
JHC CEO Kempton Cowan and WA Operations Executive Manager Kevin Cass-Ryall.
Stroke Unit opens at Joondalup
Health Campus
A new stroke unit has been officially opened at Joondalup Health Campus,
bringing acute and rehabilitation stroke care closer to home for people in
Perth’s northern suburbs.
The new service comprises a 12-bed unit, including six acute care beds, which are co-located
with a therapy space. This provides convenient access and opportunity for earlier specialist
stroke rehabilitation and providing comprehensive care.
The stroke unit forms part of the McGowan Government’s $158 million plan to redevelop the
Joondalup Health Campus to improve the health needs of people living in the northern suburbs.
State Stroke Director and JHC Director of Clinical Innovation and Reform, Dr Andrew
Wesseldine, said the new unit will give northern suburbs residents access to stroke care on
their doorstep and mean specialist staff and equipment will be together on one ward.
“Rather than having patients dispersed throughout the hospital, this unit allows us to
concentrate our newly-recruited stroke care experts from all disciplines – including doctors,
nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists – together in the one
ward, for the benefit of each patient,” he said.
In 2018, Joondalup Health Campus treated about 200 stroke patients in general medical wards.
These numbers are expected to rise as the hospital is now able to accept patients from tertiary
centres, which will repatriate suitable patients back to their regional catchment hospital.
Extensive planning went into the development of the unit with consideration given not only to
the physical needs of patients but also how the environment impacts on healing, with details
down to the colour of the paint given attention.
Throughout the planning and design stages, patients and carers were consulted and invited
to participate, with several sitting on a working party and providing their experience to help
shape the new service.
WA Health Minister Roger Cook said: “There has been a strong community desire to have
a stroke unit here for many years and we are very pleased to deliver on this much-needed
service for residents in Perth’s rapidly growing northern suburbs.”
New simulator to improve stroke
rehabilitation on the Sunshine Coast
Stroke patients at Nambour Selangor Private Hospital will benefit from a new
rehabilitation device, which mimics upper limb movements.
The Saebo Rejoyce is a motor functional movement simulator that supports patients to perform
high repetitions of motor skills.
Nambor Selangor Private Hospital CEO Sandy Moore said: “Nambour Selangor’s investment in
the Saebo Rejoyce demonstrates our commitment to continue providing quality and evidence-based
rehabilitation services on the Sunshine Coast.”
The simulator is tailored to each individual patient’s strengths and motor capacity and is
currently being used by stroke and neurological patients.
Users are guided through a wide range of programs by a therapist and an interactive screen,
which sets a learning theme to improve motor skills.
Occupational therapist Effie Sibson said: “Our aim is to facilitate the relearning of everyday
skills so that patients can regain their independence. The Saebo Rejoyce allows our patients
to engage in intensive, targeted practice such as simulated jar opening, drinking/pouring and
picking up small objects.”
Evidence shows the best patient results come from 1000 repetitions per day. The technology
allows patients to work towards this milestone, by improving times and scores during their
therapy sessions.
The technology will work in conjunction with a wide variety of rehabilitation services currently
available at the hospital.
“It’s an excellent tool to use in combination with a range of evidence-based therapies that our
therapists at Nambour Selangor Private Hospital’s rehabilitation unit are qualified to provide.
It enables patients to have independent practice and provides a motivating and challenging
therapy environment,” Ms Sibson said.
Nambour Selangor is the first private hospital on the Sunshine Coast and the first Ramsay
hospital in Australia to purchase the $20,000 rehabilitation machine.
Patients requiring rehabilitation can self-refer to the hospital’s outpatient rehabilitation services.
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