Luke Anstey has been appointed to the newly developed role of Bass Coast Health Stroke Coordinator.
Associate Professor Dr Barry Rawicki is the new Rehabilitation Physician at Bass Coast Health.
A new service will enable more people who have experienced a stroke to receive rehabilitation care at Bass Coast Health (BCH), closer to home.
In line with BCH’s continued service development as a growing sub-regional health service, BCH has initiated the Stroke Pathway Project and has appointed new staff dedicated to stroke care.
Luke Anstey is in the newly developed role of Bass Coast Health Stroke Coordinator and Associate Professor Dr Barry Rawicki will work as Rehabilitation Physician.
Luke will coordinate stroke care across the Emergency Department, Acute, Sub-Acute and Community Services at BCH, working closely with each patient’s treating team, including A/Prof Rawicki, who will support stroke and general rehabilitation as BCH transitions to providing inpatient care. A/Prof Rawicki will operate a community outpatient clinic each Monday.
“It’s exciting to be leading this new service that will give our patients better care and long-term outcomes, especially given the prevalence of stroke in our community. In 2022, approximately 200 people presented to BCH with a stroke or mini-stroke,” Luke said.
“Patients can access care in their local community rather than be transferred to Melbourne, as has been the case until now. This new service will allow people who have had a stroke to stay in their community for rehabilitation or return to BCH for rehabilitation after receiving advanced treatment elsewhere.”
An experienced physiotherapist, he has a special interest and experience in stroke and neurological rehabilitation. Luke has worked across BCH in Acute, Sub-Acute and Community Services as a Physiotherapist and, more recently, in the Stroke Project Coordinator role.
A/Prof Rawicki has expertise in neurology rehabilitation, gait analysis, spinal cord conditions, and interventional and non-interventional chronic pain management. He has held senior positions at Monash University and Monash Children’s Hospital.
To support this new service, staff have been undergoing training, and new equipment and procedures are being introduced across the Emergency Department, and through inpatients, outpatients and community services.
People wishing to see A/Prof Rawicki for an outpatient appointment can ask their medical practitioner to fax a referral to Rehabilitation Medicine to 03 9102 5307 or email it to Access@basscoasthealth.org.au.
