New Zealand National Acute Stroke Services Audit 2009: organisation of acute stroke services in New Zealand
Child, N.; Barber, P.Alan.; Fink, J.; Jones, S.; Voges, K.; Vivian, M.
New Zealand Medical Journal 124(1340): 13-20
2011
ISSN/ISBN: 0028-8446 PMID: 21952381 Document Number: 653720
To characterise the nature of acute stroke services provided by District Health Boards (DHBs) in New Zealand. An audit of all 21 DHBs was carried out in 2009 via an online survey examining the structural and process elements of acute stroke service provision. A clinical audit involving a retrospective review of consecutive admitted stroke patients is reported separately. The organisational survey found that most patients (82%) are admitted to hospitals in the 13 large and medium DHBs. Only 8 DHBs had stroke units and 5 of the large and medium DHBs did not have stroke units. On audit day, only 39% of all New Zealand patients were being managed in a stroke unit, compared with 51% of all Australian patients. Even in the 8 DHBs with stroke units, only 64% of patients were actually being managed in the stroke unit on the day of the audit. New Zealand compared favourably with Australia in aspects of TIA management and in access to brain imaging. There is significant regional variation in the provision of organised stroke care and the level of stroke unit care is low by international standards. This audit provides a benchmark against which to compare future changes in the delivery of stroke care.