AIM: To provide an up-to-date account of stroke rehabilitation services in all District Health Boards (DHB) in New Zealand in 2013. METHOD: An online survey was completed by clinicians at all 38 facilities in New Zealand providing rehabilitation services following acute stroke. RESULTS: There was some evidence of stroke rehabilitation specialisation, particularly in larger DHBs (seven of eight large DHBs provided a dedicated stroke rehabilitation unit or designated beds). Capacity was generally satisfactory with units accommodating all (68% of units) or most (further 29%) of stroke patients needing rehabilitation. Most units had guidelines for the management of common problems following stroke, apart from depression screening (7%), but intensity of therapy input remains below recommended levels. Post-discharge rehabilitation services are available in the majority of areas but significant delays (mean 14 days) are common in accessing these services. The results for New Zealand stroke rehabilitation services are broadly comparable with those from the recent Australian stroke rehabilitation service audit. CONCLUSION: Compared to previous surveys, New Zealand stroke rehabilitation services have shown progress. To maximise outcomes for stroke patients, improvements are still needed in provision of dedicated stroke rehabilitation units, rehabilitation intensity and access to prompt community rehabilitation in the community.
AIM: To provide an up-to-date account of stroke rehabilitation services in all District Health Boards (DHB) in New Zealand in 2013. METHOD: An online survey was completed by clinicians at all 38 facilities in New Zealand providing rehabilitation services following acute stroke. RESULTS: There was some evidence of stroke rehabilitation specialisation, particularly in larger DHBs (seven of eight large DHBs provided a dedicated stroke rehabilitation unit or designated beds). Capacity was generally satisfactory with units accommodating all (68% of units) or most (further 29%) of strokepatients needing rehabilitation. Most units had guidelines for the management of common problems following stroke, apart from depression screening (7%), but intensity of therapy input remains below recommended levels. Post-discharge rehabilitation services are available in the majority of areas but significant delays (mean 14 days) are common in accessing these services. The results for New Zealand stroke rehabilitation services are broadly comparable with those from the recent Australian stroke rehabilitation service audit. CONCLUSION: Compared to previous surveys, New Zealand stroke rehabilitation services have shown progress. To maximise outcomes for strokepatients, improvements are still needed in provision of dedicated stroke rehabilitation units, rehabilitation intensity and access to prompt community rehabilitation in the community.
Authors: Annemarei Ranta; Stephanie Thompson; Matire Louise Ngarongoa Harwood; Dominique Ann-Michele Cadilhac; Peter Alan Barber; Alan John Davis; John Henry Gommans; John Newton Fink; Harry Karel McNaughton; Hayley Denison; Marine Corbin; Valery Feigin; Virginia Abernethy; William Levack; Jeroen Douwes; Jacqueline Girvan; Andrew Wilson Journal: JMIR Res Protoc Date: 2021-01-12
Authors: Stephanie G Thompson; P Alan Barber; John H Gommans; Dominique A Cadilhac; Alan Davis; John N Fink; Matire Harwood; William Levack; Harry K McNaughton; Valery L Feigin; Virginia Abernethy; Jacqueline Girvan; Joosup Kim; Hayley Denison; Marine Corbin; Andrew Wilson; Jeroen Douwes; Annemarei Ranta Journal: Neurology Date: 2022-05-27 Impact factor: 11.800
Authors: Vivian Fu; Mark Weatherall; Kathryn McPherson; William Taylor; Anna McRae; Tom Thomson; John Gommans; Geoff Green; Matire Harwood; Annemarei Ranta; Carl Hanger; Judith Riley; Harry McNaughton Journal: Int J Stroke Date: 2020-04-15 Impact factor: 5.266