Mobile Stroke Unit

The Mobile Stroke Unit (MSU) is a fully-equipped, custom-built specialist Ambulance Victoria vehicle that comes equipped with a built-in CT scanner and carries acute stroke specialists. We can perform hospital-grade brain scans (including angiographic studies) in a pre-hospital or community-based setting. The MSU team consists of two paramedics (including a MICA paramedic), a CT radiographer, a stroke neurologist and a stroke nurse specialist.

The MSU carries a full range of stroke treatment drugs, including blood clot-dissolving medications and drugs designed to halt bleeding into the brain. The vehicle also carries exciting new research medications that aim to improve outcome from both bleeding and clotting strokes. Eligible patients may be asked to participate in these cutting edge trials.

The MSU is dispatched by Ambulance Victoria to attend to patients with suspected stroke within 20 kilometres of the Royal Melbourne Hospital, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm. MSU staff are able to assess, scan and offer immediate treatment to stroke patients right on their doorsteps.  Patients that receive treatment are monitored and transported by the MSU to their nearest stroke hospital.

Around the world, Mobile Stroke Units have dramatically reduced the time that patients wait to receive treatment. Around 50% of patients are able to be treated within the first 90 minutes of their stroke starting. This gives patients the best chance to recover and minimises the amount of irreversible brain damage.

The Mobile Stroke Unit project is chaired by Prof Stephen Davis and Prof Geoffrey Donnan (co-chairs of the Australian Stroke Alliance). This initiative is a collaboration between Ambulance Victoria, the Royal Melbourne Hospital, the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, National Stroke Foundation, the RMH Neuroscience Foundation, Victorian Government and the NHMRC.