The Network covers all of Greater Manchester and Central & Eastern Cheshire.
Clinical Working Groups
The stroke work streams which are documented within the Greater Manchester & Cheshire Cardiac and Stroke Network Work Programme and Delivery Plan 2008 – 2011 have driven the formation of numerous different professional stroke working groups. These working groups include:
Early Supported Discharge Group
Please click on the links above to read more information about each group.
Emergency Response Group
Background
The emergency response group members have a shared vision; to help ensure that stroke and TIA services are developed in order that all patients with acute stroke and TIA in the Network have access to the best, evidence-based, individualised care aimed at optimising patients’ clinical outcome, and minimising the debilitating effects associated with these conditions.
Aim
This group aims to harness national initiatives and intentions as outlined in the documents ‘Mending Hearts and Brains’ (DH 2007) and the National Stroke Strategy. This work is founded on the belief that concerted efforts by all stakeholders have the potential to significantly improve the clinical care of stroke within Manchester. The main priorities for this group are:
To define the optimum clinical pathway for early care of acute stoke
To facilitate the establishment of primary and comprehensive centres to allow early access to CT scan and consideration for ‘clot-busting’ thrombolysis therapy
To ensure that all patients with stroke (irrespective of thrombolysis eligibility) or TIA will receive early, evidence-based interventions aimed at reducing mortality and disability
To ensure that district centres will be a fully integral component of this “Early Hours” model
Membership
The emergency rsponse group is composed of a group of clinicians, managers and patient representatives.
Frequency of Meetings
Previously monthly (but now as and when required).
Network Lead
Roger Gamon
Early Supported Discharge
Background
When the group began there was a concern that early supported discharge for stroke patients was provided in an ad hoc manner. This group was formed to develop a model of care to ensure the delivery of high quality early supported discharge services for stroke patients. This would thus enable timely discharge and ongoing rehabilitation for patients, meeting quality markers set within the National Stroke Strategy.
Aim
This group aims to provide direction and focus on the development of early supported discharge for stroke patients across the Network conurbation. The main priorities for this group are:
To review the current evidence and agree recommendations on the development of early supported stroke discharge
To develop details on referral criteria and possible patient pathway for referral to early supported discharge
To review and monitor progress against objectives within the Network Delivery Plan
Encourage and inspire clinical engagement
Contribute to the development of polices, guidelines and implementation strategies based on evidence-based practice
Provide advice and recommendations from the group to the Stroke Board
Membership
Membership of the early supported discharge spans across multi-disciplinary stroke teams within the acute Trusts, PCTs and Local Authorities with clinical, managerial, commissioning and patient and carer representation across the Network conurbation.
Frequency of Meetings
Monthly (but now as and when required).
Network Lead
Melissa Brechin
Workforce Development Group
Background
Development of the stroke workforce is a key part of the Department of Health’s National Stroke Strategy document. Quality Marker 19 in the National Strategy states that ‘Commissioners and employers undertake a review of the current workforce and develop a plan supporting development and training to create a stroke-skilled workforce’.
The workforce development group is established to encompass the organisations (commissioners and providers) within the Network conurbation to ensure that staff are competent and capable of meeting the competencies that will be required to deliver high quality stroke services for stroke patients and their carers.
Aim
The aim of the group is to make recommendations to the Stroke Board regarding workforce review and development. The main priorities for this group are to:
Undertake a review of the stroke workforce across the Network and identify gaps within the workforce in terms of skills and resources
Produce a gap analysis document and provide recommendations to the Stroke Board
Support commissioners to ensure that they are commissioning high quality services
Support the UK Forum for stroke training including the competency frameworks and implement the new national competencies which will be issued in early 2009
Support communication and collaboration around workforce development (including capacity) between organisations and professional groups across the Greater Manchester Network conurbation
To use outside expertise to assist with progress and discuss pertinent issues
Identify training programmes that are available (both local and nationally validated courses)
To produce and review annually, an on-going flexible training and educational plan to develop the capacity, knowledge and skills of multi-disciplinary team members (including web based e-learning etc...
Support professional group development after training has finished (e.g. stroke interest groups etc...)
Membership
Membership includes representatives from each Trust and members from the multi-disciplinary primary and secondary stroke team
Frequency of Meetings
Monthly
Network Lead
Melissa Brechin
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External Links / Further Reading
www.nhsdirect.co.uk
www.stockport-pct.nhs.uk
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