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The state-of-the-art stroke treatment capabilities and continuous dedication to upholding international protocols in stroke care have earned Netcare Milpark Hospital the honour of becoming South Africa’s first World Stroke Organization certified Advanced Stroke Centre.

The WSO Certification Committee reviews stroke care standards in hospitals all over the world and commended the responsible team at Netcare Milpark Hospital on their “collective dedication to excellence in stroke care,” adding, “We are proud to recognise your hospital’s commitment to providing high quality services”.

This recognition marks the culmination of years of meeting the WSO’s stringent requirements and submitting stroke care data to the Res-Q registry.

“Improving stroke outcomes cannot be achieved by any hospital in isolation – it requires global collaboration to ensure that data-driven best practice in stroke care continuously works to reduce death and disability caused by stroke all over the world and in our own communities,” says Zasskia Wiese, Netcare trauma programme manager and national stroke coordinator.

Netcare Milpark Hospital’s acute stroke centre started contributing to the international Res-Q database in 2019. Through the WSO partnership, the hospital gained access to global benchmarking data and best practices from leading stroke care facilities worldwide. By implementing these standards, it achieved the major milestone of becoming the first Advanced Stroke Centre in the country, and one of only a handful on the continent.

Pic: Dr Omar: The World Stroke Organization has recognised South Africa’s first Advanced Stroke Centre at Netcare Milpark Hospital, noted for its capability to perform minimally invasive mechanical thrombectomy. Neurovascular interventional radiologist Dr Moaaz Valli Omar is a key member of the Advanced Stroke Centre team and one of South Africa’s most experienced specialists in this minimally invasive procedure.

 

Pic: Pre-thrombectomy and Post-thrombectomy: A mechanical thrombectomy is a highly specialised procedure used to treat certain types of stroke within the first few hours of onset. Before the procedure, the blood clot is starving part of the brain of its vital blood supply. Once the clot is removed, blood flow is restored to the affected area of the brain.

 

Neurologist Dr Pradeep Rowji, one of the key members of the multidisciplinary stroke team at Netcare Milpark Hospital, adds: "As a team we are grateful for the recognition from the World Stroke Organization. We could not have come this far without all the infrastructural support from Netcare Milpark Hospital management, nursing staff and paramedic teams who work tirelessly to ensure safe passage for our patients throughout their stroke journey.”

Within the Netcare Group, this prestigious WSO certification adds to the recent achievements of Netcare Blaauwberg and Netcare Garden City hospitals with both recognised as Essential Stroke Centres. To achieve certification, hospitals must demonstrate:

• Rapid assessment protocols that ensure patients receive treatment within a critical window of time
• Specialised stroke teams trained to international standards
• Advanced imaging capabilities and treatment options
• Comprehensive rehabilitation services
• Continuous quality monitoring and improvement systems

“Stroke may be caused either by bleeding in the brain, or by a blood clot blocking a vessel supplying the brain with nutrients and oxygen, known as an ischaemic stroke. What differentiates Netcare Milpark Hospital as a WSO Advanced Stroke Centre is the additional capability to perform mechanical thrombectomies for major occlusive ischaemic stroke,” Wiese explains.

Interventional radiologist Dr Moaaz Valli Omar, a key member of the acute stroke team and one of South Africa’s most experienced specialists in minimally invasive mechanical thrombectomy, explains that while this minimally invasive procedure is not without risk, it can significantly improve the prognosis when performed within a narrow window of a few hours after the onset of stroke.

“During a stroke, the brain loses 1.9 million neurons every minute, yet when we can restore crucial blood flow to the areas of the brain in time, the person can often regain a great deal of functionality and quality of life,” Dr Omar explains.

Awareness of the symptoms of acute stroke, supported by rapid, evidence-based treatment protocols – the hallmark of WSO certification – directly affects whether patients survive and regain their independence.

Dr Erich Bock, managing director of Netcare’s hospital division, congratulated the stroke care team on their achievement. “This international certification truly extends person centred care, meaningfully improving lives through evidence-based, data-driven international protocols and technological investment in our facilities.”

Save a life: Know the signs of stroke

Anyone can help save a life by recognising the signs of stroke as a medical emergency and taking action immediately,” adds neurologist Dr Ismail Moola of the multidisciplinary Netcare Milpark Advanced Stroke Centre team.

BE FAST

B for ‘Balance’ – sudden difficulty maintaining balance.
E for ‘Eyes’ – the person may experience problems with their vision, including loss of sight in one eye or blurred vision.
F for ‘Face drooping’ – facial muscles are weak, often causing facial asymmetry as one side of the face starts to droop.
A for ‘Arm or leg weakness’ – the person may feel weak in one or both arms or legs, and may feel numb on one side of their body. They may also have poor coordination with difficulty walking or standing up. Usually this occurs on one side of the body.
S for ‘Speech difficulty’ – the person may slur words, use words incorrectly or be unable to speak.
T for ‘Time’ – take note of the time the stroke began or was first noticed. This is also the ‘Time to call emergency medical services’, such as Netcare 911 on 082 911 or via the Netcare app.

Ends

Notes to editors
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Alternatively, contact Netcare appointmedTM on 0860 555 565, Mondays to Fridays, 08:00 to 17:00, or via the Netcare app to make an appointment with a therapist, doctor or specialist practising at a Netcare hospital, Netcare Medicross or Netcare Akeso facility near you.

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