Grampians Health Ballarat certified as Primary Stroke Centre
Grampians Health Ballarat has now become a certified a primary stroke centre by the Australian Stroke Coalition, further highlighting the health service’s commitment to provide high quality stroke care to the Grampians community.
Stroke Unit Care is one of the strongest evidence-based recommendations for improving outcomes for people experiencing a stroke, and the certification formally acknowledges the high standard of care being delivered at Grampians Health Ballarat.
A Stroke Unit Certification is recommended by both the World Health Organisation and the Federal Government Heart and Stroke Plan to ensure a hospital meets nationally recognised standards for delivering timely stroke care.
The achievement follows focused service development, including the appointment of a new full time Stroke Coordinator – a position co-funded by the River Birch Foundation and Grampians Health. Establishing this role enabled the team to pursue Stroke Unit accreditation in November 2025.
Grampians Health’s head of neurology Dr Mandy Lau said the certification reflects the dedication and collaboration of the multidisciplinary team.
“We're very focused on continuing to improve stroke care for our community and building a leading stroke service for our region,” she said.
“The Stroke Coordinator role is a key enabler – supporting timely treatment, earlier access to rehabilitation, and helping patients return home sooner.
“As we continue to improve our stroke service, our community can be confident they’re receiving high-quality, evidence-based stroke care right here, close to home.”
The team is now working toward obtaining full four-year Stroke Unit certification later in 2026, she added.
Grampians Health Ballarat continues to manage a high volume of stroke presentations. In 2024, the hospital recorded more than 600 Code Stroke presentations and admitted 201 confirmed stroke patients.
In 2025, there were over 700 code stroke presentations, and 234 confirmed stroke admissions were recorded. During this time, the average length of stay for stroke patients decreased from five days in 2024 to four days in 2025, reflecting improved patient flow, coordination and access to specialised care. The hospital also has four dedicated stroke beds.
Grampians Health’s Chief Operating Officer Ben Kelly said the recent recognition highlights the service’s sustained focus on quality care.
“This certification confirms that the care we provide aligns with national best practice and the strongest recommendations for stroke treatment,” Mr Kelly said.
“I am incredibly proud of our multidisciplinary team and their ongoing commitment to improving outcomes for patients, and we are excited to continue working toward full four-year certification later this year.”
The hospital continues to demonstrate strong performance and improvements in hyperacute stroke treatment, achieving an average door to needle time of 71 minutes, with an interquartile range of 61 to 79 minutes.
Supported through the Enhancing Stroke Care project funded by Safer Care Victoria, Grampians Health Ballarat has implemented an in hours Direct to CT model, regular multidisciplinary Code Stroke case review meetings, and a structured feedback tool for hyperacute stroke cases. A stroke trained senior pharmacist also participates in Code Stroke presentations, further enhancing stroke care at the hospital.
Grampians Health stroke team also received a boost last year with the appointment of a Grampians Regional Stroke Coordinator – a role that was created by the Grampians Local Health Service to enhance stroke care in the region. This has led to faster patient transfers and better performance against national stroke targets.
Grampians Health Ballarat also provides a full complement of allied health services for stroke patients, refers patients to a local off site rehabilitation facility, and operates Transient Ischaemic Attack and Stroke clinics twice weekly to support ongoing care following discharge.
