New Guidelines to Help Treat Strokes in Children

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Paediatric neurologists from the John Hunter Children's Hospital have played a big part in putting together Australia's first ever clinical guidelines for children who suffer a stroke.

The guidelines aim to improve the diagnosis and acute management of children and babies who suffer a stroke - around 300 are diagnosed across Australia each year.

One of the paediatric neurologists taking part is Dr Christina Miteff who believes the guidelines will improve the overall treatment and importantly the recognition of strokes in children.

"Stroke affects up to eight per 100,000 children each year, which is a higher incidence for example than childhood brain tumours," said Dr Miteff.

The massive difference between when an adult has a stroke to when a child has a stroke has increased the need for the children/baby specific guidelines. In addition, more than 50 per cent of the young children who do suffer a stroke are healthy at the time.

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"It's certainly true that children do not have the common risk factors that adults have, so in adults, there's often high blood pressure or smoking, lifestyle, things like that which contribute to risk for stroke, in children though these aren't true," said Dr Miteff.

"Some recommendations firstly in terms of when to think of a stroke and what investigations should occur and these investigations should occur very quickly because timely recognition is very important particularly now that potential treatments are available early on."

Recognition can mean the difference between life and death, with many children often not knowing until the day after that they have suffered a stroke. As a consequence of just a days delay in treatment, the window for life-changing interventions may be missed and an intervention minimises brain injury and improves patient recovery.

"It's a document that any emergency department or paediatrician, and also in smaller centres can access and it gives a very clear idea on what to do and hopefully we can collect data accurately because we now recognise strokes more consistently which will also allow for further research in that area in the future," said Dr Miteff.

Cheaper parking for John Hunter Hospital

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Under a new policy at the John Hunter Hospital, it will now be cheaper to park, but only if you're a frequent visitor.

The state government have now implemented a system they believe will be hugely beneficial where patients or their carers apply for a discounted ticket through a website and smartphone app. The system will bring down the cost to $10.90 for a three-day ticket, and a maximum of $21.70 for a seven-day ticket.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald says it's really designed for people who are at the hospital frequently whether it be for daily dressing changes, ongoing cancer treatments and any other treatment which requires them to be there more than twice a week.

"It doesn't sound like a lot of money but it can be very, very important if they're really facing a lot of health treatment. This has been talked about for literally decades and it's here only because of good budget and good management, financial management, throughout the state that we are now able to offer this and we're very proud the state government has been able to put this together," said Scot MacDonald.

For more information and to see whether you're eligible for the discounted rate head to www.parking.health.nsw.gov.au  

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