Timeline of WGSP

2008-2013

2008

• Initial discussions and formation of a UK group to explore the potential of supporting stroke development in Ghana 

• Associated fundraising

2009 

• March - First visit to Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) Ghana; 2 MDT workshops held; key themes to develop identified 

• Potential funding sources explored 

• December - poster at UK Stroke Forum 

 2010 

• October – visit to Ghana, with a UK physiotherapist staying until the end of December to further embed 4 initial core skills training (positioning, communication, swallow, continence) 

2011 

• March and September - visits to Ghana; core skills training including introduction of logbooks; stroke checklist designed and implemented; data collection agreed; family education introduced 

• April - publication in International Journal of Stroke – Development of stroke care in Ghana 
  Read the Journal of Stroke piece here >>  

• May - publication in The Lancet – Collaboration works to improve stroke outcomes in Ghana 
  Read The Lancet piece here >> 

• December - poster at UK Stroke Forum 

2012 

• February – THET grant funding secured until November 2013 

• May and September - visits to Ghana; core skills training, data collection; basic manual handling equipment provided

• November – Ghanaian medic, nurse and physiotherapist visit the UK for 2 weeks, spending time with Bournemouth and Portsmouth stroke services; 2 facilitated reflective sessions held

• Agreement on development of 4 core stroke skills – positioning, communication, swallowing and continence

  2013

• January – Ghanaian nurse is runner-up in The Nursing Standard International Nurse of the Year award 

• June and October – visits to Ghana; core skills training; local provision of manual handling equipment; data collection; planning opening of a stroke unit 

• November – THET visit to KBTH; favourable report on WGSP progress 

• October - poster at International Allied Health Professionals Conference