26 Sep 2016 Wangaratta Chronicle, Wangaratta VIC (General News) by Leah Tindill Itindillr Ne Com Au Projects atNHW to help patient recovery STROKE patients at Northeast Health Wangaratta are set to benefit from more therapy options thanks to $200,000 in State Government funding. The funding was announced last week by Jaclyn Symes (MLC, Northern Victoria), with $144,000 to go towards implementing an Early Supported Discharge project over 18 months, and another $54,000 to go towards the Thomas Hogan Centre rehabilitation service. These are two very exciting projects being undertaken by NHW and the State Government is proud to be supporting such positive initiatives that will improve patient recovery from stroke, Ms Symes said. The government is putting patients first and ensuring stroke survivors can access the very best care, when they need it, closer to home. Stroke survivors in Wangaratta will benefit from rehabilitation services that will enable them to enjoy a better quality of life. The local hospital also received a $7000 grant for its Enriched Environment program at THC, which aims to create a stimulating environment for patients to engage in outside of their therapy time. NHW chief executive officer Margaret Bennett said the funding and programs were an exciting opportunity for the hospital. Both of these projects are based on current evidence in improving the outcome for patients post stroke, she said. The Early Supported Discharge Project will be a collaborative approach between inpatient and community rehabilitation and will aim to facilitate patients who have had a mild to moderate stroke to receive the same interdisciplinary rehabilitation they would receive while an inpatient but in the community. The practices will enable patients to return home sooner than with traditional therapy, and will also include home based therapy. This is especially exciting as it will provide the patient with a rehabilitative experience that is not just specific to the times a therapist is at work but enable them to continue their rehabilitation on weekends, outside of 9-5pm therapy times, et cetera. The programs have already begun and are expected to be in full swing by February 2017. About one in six people will suffer a stroke in their lifetime. In 2014, 2954 Victorians died from the disease. Stroke continues to be the biggest killer and leading cause of disability in Australia, causing more deaths than breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men. Victorian hospitals treat more than 14,000 people for stroke and related conditions every year. About one third of these will require rehabilitation either in hospital or at home. Caption Text: BETTER OUTLOOK: Northeast Health Wangaratta occupational therapist Bronwyn Connelly and physiotherapist Erin Anderberg chat with stroke patient Frank Paola about improved therapy practices. PHOTO: Luke Plummer Licensed by Copyright Agency. You may only copy or communicate this work with a licence.