No Postcode Untouched: Stroke in Australia 2017 found 12 of the country’s top 20 hotspots for stroke incidence were in New South Wales, with all but two of those in regional and rural areas.

The Lyne, Cowper and Page electorates were the worst affected, recording the highest incidence of strokes.

Stroke Foundation New South Wales State Manager Teresa Howarth said due to limited access to best practice treatment, people in the state’s regional areas were also more likely to die or be left with a significant disability as a result a stroke.

“In 2017, NSW residents will suffer more than 19,000 strokes and many of these will be experienced by people living outside of Sydney,’’ Ms Howarth said.

“Advancements in stroke treatment and care mean stroke is no longer a death sentence for many, however patient outcomes vary widely across the country depending on where people live.

“Stroke can be treated. It is a tragedy that only a small percentage of NSW stroke patients are getting access to the latest treatments and ongoing specialist care that we know saves lives,’’ she said.

Stroke Foundation Clinical Council Chair Associate Processor Bruce Campbell said Australian clinicians were leading the way internationally in advancements in acute stroke treatment, such as endovascular clot retrieval. However, the health system was not designed to support and deliver these innovations in treatment and care nationally.

“It is not fair that our health system forces patients into this cruel lottery,’’ A/Professor Campbell said.

“Consistent lack of stroke-specific funding and poor resourcing is costing us lives and money. For the most part, doctors and nurses are doing what they can in a system that is fragmented, under-resourced and overwhelmed.”

No Postcode Untouched: Stroke in Australia 2017 report and website uses data compiled and analysed by Deloitte Access Economics to reveal how big the stroke challenge is in each Australian federal electorate. This data includes estimates of the number of strokes, survivors and the death rate. It is an update of a Stroke Foundation report released in 2014.

The report shows the cities and towns where stroke is having its biggest impact and pinpoints future hotspots where there is an increased need for support. 

Ms Howarth said stroke was a leading cause of death and disability in Australia, having a huge impact on the community and the economy.

“Currently, there is one stroke in Australia every nine minutes, by 2050 - without action - this number is set to increase to one stroke every four minutes,’’ she said.

“Stroke doesn’t discriminate, it impacts people of all ages and while more people are surviving stroke, its impact on survivors and their families is far reaching.

“It doesn’t have to be this way. Federal and state governments have the opportunity to invest in proven measures to change the state of stroke in this country.”

In the wake of the report Stroke Foundation is calling for a national strategy to address the prevention and treatment of stroke, and support for stroke survivors living in the community.

Key elements include:

- A national action campaign to ensure every Australian household has someone who knows FAST - the signs of stroke and to call 000. Stroke is a time critical medical condition. Time saved in getting people to hospital and treatments = brain saved.

- Nationally coordinated telemedicine network – breaking down the barriers to acute stroke treatment.

- Ensuring all stroke patients have access to stroke unit care, and spend enough time on the stroke unit accessing the services and supports they need to live well after stroke.