Ballina RSL to hold stroke seminar
A public seminar for stroke survivors and their carers will be held in Ballina on Tuesday, 20 February, from 2pm-4pm. The venue for the free seminar is the Ballina RSL Club, 240 River Street.
The gathering, hosted by leaders from the NSW Stroke Recovery Association and the NSW Stroke Services Network, will provide an opportunity for local people who have experienced a stroke or who care for someone with a stroke to learn more about managing stroke in the community. It will also update them on what is occurring in stroke management across NSW.
It will be followed the next day by a health professionals’ forum discussing the latest evidence and information on stroke management. One focus will be helping GPs to ensure they are equipped with the most current knowledge to facilitate the stroke patient’s journey following discharge from hospital.
The forum is part of a Statewide program to deliver better education and training in stroke care to rural health professionals.
“The forum will allow participants to support their knowledge in providing the most up-to-date techniques and best practice care for stroke patients,” explained NSW Rural Stroke Project Officer, Melissa Gill, who said the idea of the road show was to take stroke education to people living and working in the country.
“Stroke is the second largest killer and one of the leading causes of disability amongst adults in Australia. Over 53,000 strokes occur in Australia each year, with a stroke happening every 10 minutes. More than 350,000 people are living in Australia who have had a stroke.
“Stroke affects many families in the North Coast region, with more than 880 people admitted to hospitals within the North Coast Area Health Service every 12 months. In NSW 15,000 stroke patients were provided care in NSW Public Hospitals during the 2004/05 financial year. It is important to remember that stroke is preventable and can be treated.”
In 2006, the NSW Institute of Rural Clinical Services and Teaching, together with NSW Stroke Services Network in conjunction with the Greater Metropolitan Clinical Taskforce, held 10 successful rural stroke education forums across NSW.
“Because the 2006 roadshow was such a success we decided to carry on the idea and continue to provide people living in rural areas with access to high-quality information,” Ms Gill said.
“The forum will bring together some of the State’s leading specialists in stroke care, together with contributions from local allied health, medical and nursing clinicians with an interest in stroke care.”
