Stroke director and neurologist at Orange hospital Dr Rami Haddad said the software, which had been installed at Orange, Bathurst and Dubbo hospitals enables stroke radiology teams to identify both brain tissue that is irreversibly damaged by a blood clot and brain tissue that could be saved if the clot was removed.

“This capability helps us identify suitable patients for mechanical clot removal,” he said.

Dr Haddad said previously doctors had only a six hour window from the onset of the stroke to treat people, but now they had up to 24 hours to work with selected patients.

“The medical evidence behind this therapy was lacking before,” he said.

He said there was now a one-in-three chance of recovery.

“One-in-three patients is an excellent outcome. It is for us an amazing number,” he said.

“If you have stroke symptoms every minute counts for us. You need to contact the hospital as soon as possible.”