Care in a stroke unit improves longterm outcomes for stroke patients, underpinning the enhanced organization of stroke services now underway across Australia.1,2 An important component of organised acute stroke care is thrombolytic therapy with intravenous tissue
plasminogen activator (tPA),2,3 which was licensed for use in Australia in 2003. This highly cost-effective therapy4-6 substantially reduces major disability when used in an expert setting.7,8 .