Aust gets first ever stroke ambulance

Australia's first ever stroke ambulance is set to hit the road in Melbourne next year, as part of a trial aimed at saving more lives by providing faster response times.

The purpose-built ambulance, launched by the Victorian government in partnership with the Stroke Foundation on Thursday, is fitted with a CT scanner to be operated by a stroke nurse, radiographer and neurologist.

With a CT scanner on board, assessment and treatment of stroke can begin immediately in the field rather than waiting until the patient has arrived at hospital.

This means stroke patients can receive faster diagnosis and interventions, such as clot busting thrombolysis.

Stroke, caused by either a bleed or blood clot in the brain, is one of the country's biggest killers and a leading cause of disability.

The stroke ambulance has already been tested in Germany and America.

In 2015, there were an estimated 50,000 new and recurrent strokes - that equate to about one stroke every 10 minutes.

Time critical medical treatments can stop and even reverse the damage caused, says Stroke Foundation Chief Executive Officer Sharon McGowan.

"Following a stroke, brain cells die at a rate of 1.9 million a minute," Ms McGowan said.

"Time saved is brain saved, faster diagnosis and treatment in the Stroke Ambulance can save lives and reduce disability," she said.

The trial is due to commence in mid-2017 in Melbourne's north and western suburbs and is part of research between the Royal Melbourne Hospital, the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health and The University of Melbourne and Ambulance Victoria.

Victorian Health Minister Jill Hennessy says this first mobile stroke ambulance is part of the government's $500 million plan to employ 450 more paramedics and improve ambulance response times.