Spinal Cord Injury Service
Vision
The State Spinal Cord Injury Service is committed to ensuring that people with spinal cord injuries residing in New South Wales receive the highest quality services, coordinated in collaboration with other stakeholders to facilitate individual independence and achievement of personal goals.
Who we serve
Background to Spinal Cord Injury
For patients, entry into the spinal cord injury service is an unanticipated, unwanted catastrophic life change and for most, the commencement of a life-long association with a complex array of services.
Persisting spinal cord injury impacts on every aspect of a person's life - health status, physiological and psychological wellbeing, active community participation, social relations, reproductive health, economic independence, employment, education and recreation. The effective management of the acute phase of Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) and addressing life-long health and disability needs calls on a wide range of clinical, social and technical resources requiring a whole of Government approach to service provision and coordination. Though relatively rare, SCI has a significant impact upon public sector services and resources.
Because of improved continuing care, particularly of skin, respiratory, bladder, renal, bowel and psychological conditions, SCI projected mean life expectancy is estimated to be 70% of the normal life expectancy for people with complete tetraplegia, 84% for people with complete paraplegia and at least 92% for those with an incomplete lesion. This increase in life expectancy has been a major achievement during the past 12-15 years and arises from the recognition of spinal cord injuries as a specialty leading to improved research, training and education, standards of care and methodologies, tertiary service development and specialised rehabilitation programs. This success is also a reflection of the population's own efforts in the areas of advocacy, disability rights and establishing significant non-government organizations to support people living with a spinal cord injury.
SSCIS History - GMSIG Recommendations
GMSIG Recommendations
1. That a statewide spinal cord injury service be formed.
2. That the existing adult and paediatric units be maintained but become part of the statewide service. All appropriate staff would be cross-accredited and the statewide service would review the configuration of the current service based on data to be collected under a uniform system.
3. That the Directorate be responsible for:
- the coordination of services in their existing units, including the paediatric units
- the development of a uniform data collection system which would be used for the assessment of clinical outcomes, funding requirements and research.
- the development of transitional care and outreach programs, liaison with Area Health Services, Mental Health, the Department of Housing, MAA, ParaQuad NSW, Spinal Cord Injuries Australia and other community support groups
- coordination of the research effort
- coordination of staff training
- the development of uniform protocols
- coordination of the development of prevention programs
- budgetary matters
- that the Director be expected to give firm recommendations on the future configuration of the statewide spinal cord injury service for NSW including paediatric services in the next three to five years.
