Clinical Leadership group paints a bright future for stroke services, 2 June 2011

A new team of experts has been formed to ensure the best possible level of treatment and care for stroke patients in New Zealand. The national Stroke Services Clinical Networks Leadership Group met in Wellington on 11th May. The twelve members include neurologists, specialist stroke nurses, a rehabilitation physician, a physiotherapist, speech language therapist and occupational therapist.

“The group brings together the diversity of skills required to provide good stroke services,” said Ginny Abernethy , Clinical Networks Coordinator with the Stroke Foundation, which has helped to form the group. “The members are drawn from all over the country and can represent the issues facing patients and services from the smallest rural area to the major city hospitals. It is exciting to be working with such an experienced and expert group.”

The group’s objective is to implement the Clinical Guidelines for Stroke Management in New Zealand which were published last year, detailing best practice for stroke services. The Guidelines reflected the audit of acute stroke services produced in 2009 which indicated that existing stroke services could not always guarantee best practice care in all regions. 
The leadership group will produce an implementation plan and will support a range of regional and interdisciplinary networks which will improve training and advocacy for stroke related issues.

“We have the audit to tell us where the problems are, we have the Guidelines to tell us what we should be doing, and now we are developing the plan for how we can achieve it,” said John Fink,  Consultant Neurologist  at Canterbury District Health Board and a member of the working group that developed the Guidelines.

“Receiving the best possible care should not depend on where you happen to fall ill,” said Stroke Foundation CEO Mark Vivian. “Implementing the Guidelines provides the opportunity to share resources and skills to improve services in all areas. Our hope is that in five years time the NZ population will be able to recognise the signs of a stroke, be aware that it is a health emergency and have access to the best services for acute care and rehabilitation. The first meeting of the Leadership Group marks the next stage on a long journey to improve stroke service provision throughout New Zealand.”

The Implementation plan will be distributed for consultation over July and August.

For further information contact:
Ginny Abernethy, Stroke Foundation Clinical Networks Coordinator
Ph 04 815 8126
ginny_abernethy@stroke.org.nz
www.stroke.org.nz