Family patriarch Nick died last August in a Sydney Hospital after he was denied a life-saving stroke treatment because he arrived 45 minutes after business hours.

Mr Taousanis said Prince of Wales Hospital administrators would not allow his 81-year-old father to undergo an endovascular clot retrieval, despite clinicians being on site, because the support team had finished their shift. He died four days later.

The family spoke publicly of their distress over the incident, but has welcomed news that the NSW Government has since worked to establish 24/7 access to the procedure at more of the state’s hospitals.

‘’My father died unnecessarily from an untreated stroke in 2016 due to lack of funding from the NSW government,’’ Mr Taousanis said.

‘’But this means my father’s death was not in vain, that his death is responsible for saving thousands of other stroke victims’ lives who will now be able to access this medical technology.’’

Mr Taousanis said while it doesn’t bring his dad back, nor give his mother Theodora back her husband of 50 years, it does bring some solace.

‘’Of course I wish this had been brought to the government’s attention earlier because it could have saved my father’s life but I’m glad I made a stand,’’ he said.

A NSW Health spokeswoman said Prince of Wales, Liverpool, John Hunter and Royal Prince Alfred Hospitals now run the service 24/7. Three other Sydney hospitals run services during the day.

‘’There are currently a limited number of clinicians with the skills and training to deliver neuro-intervention services for stroke in NSW and nationally,’’ the spokeswoman said.

‘’So the ability to provide 24/7 services has been a significant challenge, particularly for after-hours services.’’

She added: ‘’NSW is continuing to expand in the service as well as work to establish out-of-hours services at the other NSW sites providing these services and is pleased with the recruitment that has been achieved.’’

Meantime local health districts, including Illawarra Shoalhaven, would continue to liaise with colleagues at the seven sites to arrange transfer for patients suitable for the intervention.

Region’s bear brunt of stroke burden

A new Stroke Foundation report released this week shows that regional areas are bearing the brunt of Australia’s stroke burden – with the Gilmore electorate among the top five hotspots in the country.

Stroke Foundation NSW state manager Teresa Howarth said due to limited access to best practice treatment, people in regional areas like the Illawarra and Shoalhaven were also more likely to die or be left with a significant disability as a result a stroke.

‘’In 2017, NSW residents will suffer more than 19,000 strokes and many of these will be experienced by people living outside of Sydney,’’ Ms Howarth said.

‘’Advancements in stroke treatment and care mean stroke is no longer a death sentence for many, however patient outcomes vary widely across the country depending on where people live.

“Stroke can be treated. It is a tragedy that only a small percentage of NSW stroke patients are getting access to the latest treatments and ongoing specialist care that we know saves lives.’’