20 July 2009

State first for Central Coast

The Central Coast is the first area in the state to offer its rural and regional patients a level of access to lifesaving cardiac treatment previously only available to people living within an hour of a metropolitan cardiac service.

NSW Minister for Health and Minister for the Central Coast, John Della Bosca, said high risk patients who attend an emergency department with symptoms of acute heart attack will now get around-the-clock access to catheterisation when needed.

“Under the new protocol, patients who attend Gosford or Wyong Emergency Departments are initially given medication to break down clots,” the Minister said.

“If they are deemed to be high risk, they are then transferred immediately to Royal North Shore Hospital’s catheter laboratory, so their arteries can be opened using a balloon and stent.

“This service is the first of its kind in the state and may become a model for other health services.

“Patients who come in to an emergency department on the Central Coast after hours can be confident they are receiving the best possible cardiac treatment at all times.

“It’s a great step forward in patient care for local residents and is the result of cooperation between cardiologists and emergency physicians at Royal North Shore, Gosford and Wyong Hospitals,” the Minister said.

Cardiologist Brendan Gunalingam, Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service’s Director of Cardiovascular Services, said the new policy is a great achievement for Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service’s clinical network program, as recommended by senior clinicians who drew up the area’s Clinical Services Strategic Plan.

“By working together we are improving health care on the Central Coast for patients now and in the future,” Dr Gunalingam said.

Mr Della Bosca said the Central Coast is benefiting from a $416.7 million investment in better patient care, as part of the NSW Government’s record $15.1 billion health budget for 2009/10 – an increase of $20.2 million for the region on the previous year.

For a range of health information, go online to www.health.nsw.gov.au