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Chair - NHS Lothian
Zara Tumblety was appointed as SSNF chair in Nov 2024. She is the lead Stroke Advanced Nurse Practitioner at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and leads a 24/7 stroke liaison nurse team, specialising in hyper-acute stroke care. Zara worked previously within the stroke unit and has also worked in a Senior Charge Nurse position at RIE before taking on her current role. She is currently completing an MSc, focusing on patient’s experience of the hyper-acute stroke pathway and is passionate about the development of the Stroke ANP role in Scotland.
Vice Chair and Area Rep - Greater Glasgow South
Stroke Clinical Nurse Specialist in Acute Stroke ward within Larkfield Unit at Inverclyde Royal Hospital for 2 years, I am the only stroke nurse in Inverclyde but link in closely with my colleagues across GGC.
Prior to coming here to work I worked rurally covering community stroke rehabilitation in Cowal & Bute part time which was part of a joint post working with the cardiac rehabilitation team in rural areas.
Stroke was always my passion and since coming to Greenock I have most recently with one of my colleagues led in developing our 6 monthly review document for all of GGC which is currently in the early stages of being used and hopefully we will be able to audit this and provide improvements for all of our patients in their reviews.
Treasurer - Treasurer
Originally from the York, I qualified at Portsmouth university in 1998 working initially in orthopaedics before moving to community nursing in 2001in London. Moving to Scotland I Joined Chest Heart and stroke Scotland as a stroke liaison nurse in 2004 working with stroke survivors and their families post stroke and providing essential support and care to stroke patients for up to a year post stroke. This led me to my current role within NHS Lothian as the Stroke Education Facilitator which I started in 2021. In this position, I am committed to educating healthcare professionals and improving stroke care practices across the region. I have a keen interest in Intimacy after stroke and working to improve confidence and awareness for staff. After work I enjoy cycling, golf and I am a keen football fan.
Organisation Deputy Rep - Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS)
Organisation Rep - Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland
Joanne Graham is the Director of Service Delivery at Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland and has a background in nursing and stroke education in both the NHS and Third Sector.
Joanne’s clinical background in the NHS includes neuro-rehabilitation, and she has specialised in stroke care across community and rehabilitation settings. She has extensive experience in the development and delivery of stroke-specific education and the delivery of health services across Scotland. Joanne also has a special interest in supported self management for those with chronic disease and recently led in the development and implementation of the CHSS Community Healthcare Support Service.
At CHSS, Joanne took up the role of Director of Service Delivery in 2023 and has responsibility for service provision, which includes clinical & advice line operations, community and prevention services, health information provision, Impact & Evaluation and CHSS’s educational offers. In this role, Joanne ensures the development and delivery of high-quality, evidence-based services across Scotland. Joanne is a member of multiple advisory committees and recently provided input as part of the global review group for rehabilitation nurse certification.
Organisation Rep - SSRN
Allan is the Lead Research Nurse for the Cerebrovascular Research Group, NHS Lothian in a role he has held since 2018. He is a senior member of the EMERGE team (Emergency Medicine Research Group Edinburgh) and joined the team in 2015.
He has responsibility for coordinating and delivering more than twenty clinical research trials and studies; managing a team of research nurses and clinical trial assistants; providing research-focused education to students and registered nurses and he represents the Scottish Stroke Research Network on the Scottish Stroke Nurse Forum committee.
Allan continually seeks to embed the role of research in clinical practice and is an advocate for the relevance and importance of research within evidence-based healthcare.
Connections are of fundamental importance to Allan. He believes that transformational healthcare starts with people, and he seeks to nourish and develop meaningful relationships with patients, participants and colleagues in the pursuit of this aim.
Area Rep Deputy - NHS Lothian
Trish qualified as an RGN in Dundee in 1985. Since qualifying she has worked in numerous specialities throughout the UK including theatres, critical care, palliative care and Medicine of the elderly. In 2001 Trish became Senior Charge Nurse in Stroke Rehabilitation and Acute Care and has continued to deliver and promote specialised services for stroke patients. Trish has collaborated with CHSS to develop further education through the STARS modules to further develop nurses, AHP and carers. The increasing demand of the importance of immediate intervention for stroke has led to her present post initially as a Stroke Nurse Specialist, then qualifying as the first Stroke Specialist Advanced Nurse Practitioner in NHS Lothian. Trish delivers education on acute stroke care within NHS Lothian teams. She continues to work closely with Emergency Medicine to initiate the acute stroke pathway to optimise patient outcomes and deliver hyper-acute services.
Area Rep - Deputy - Ayrshire & Arran
Area Rep - Deputy - Borders
Area Rep - Deputy - Forth Valley
Area Rep - Deputy - Greater Glasgow North
Area Rep - Highland
I have recently joined as a SSNF committee member representing NHS Highland. I qualified in 2011 and have worked within the Stroke Unit in Raigmore Hospital for the last 13 years. I currently work part time as a Stroke Coordinator with NHS Highland, and work across acute, community and voluntary sector pathways to support people living with stroke within a very rural part of Scotland. I also continue to work part time as a Senior Staff Nurse within the Stroke Unit at Raigmore Hospital, which enables excellent continuity of care for our stroke patients.
I wanted to join the SSNF Committee to help strengthen the links between acute and community stroke services. Working both as a Stroke Coordinator and Senior Staff Nurse at Raigmore enables me to see the full patient journey, and I am passionate about improving continuity of care and patient experience across all stages of stroke recovery. We have recently developed and started a new Thrombectomy Pathway within NHS Highland, and I am excited to see where this takes us.
Area Rep Deputy - Tayside
Area Rep - Argyll & Bute
Area Rep - Ayrshire & Arran
Area Rep - Borders
Stroke Association Representative - Scotland
Karen is the Engagement Lead for Scotland for the Stroke Association and works closely with NHS Stroke teams across Scotland to ensure that Stroke survivors receive the best support possible. She has over 40 years’ experience of working in the statutory, voluntary and private sector in the field of disability. As well as growing up with a mum who had a stroke Karen has a background in nursing and midwifery.
Utilising her knowledge she has worked with individuals who have had a stroke both in the acute and community setting both in the NHS in Scotland and as far afield as Africa
Area Rep - Fife
I am the CHSS Lead Stroke Nurse in Fife. Since qualifying in April 2003, I have worked in both hospital and community neuro settings. I started with CHSS in 2010 in a 14-month secondment Community Stroke Nurse post and 14 years later I am still with CHSS and in the role of Lead Stroke Nurse for Fife. The complexities of stroke and stroke care is what drives me and my aim throughout my nursing career is to provide the best care and support to anyone affected by a recent diagnosis of Stroke whether as the patient or their carer.
One of my greatest career achievements was being selected for the Queens Nursing Institute of Scotland (QNIS) 2023 programme and being recognised as a Community Nurse who is making a difference to people’s health and wellbeing. Secondary prevention is a significant part of the role as a Stroke Nurse, but it was my interest in stroke primary prevention and in particular identification of Atrial Fibrillation and hypertension in people who have not yet had a stroke within our community settings that became the basis of my application and subsequent project work for the QNIS programme.
Area Rep - Forth Valley
Married. Grown up kids. Cats. I spend a lot of my time wandering, I mean walking, in the countryside where I live (the Trossachs). I like to rehash conversations that I've had days or weeks ago and so appear, muttering away, as a "mad woman of the woods" to unsuspecting tourists.
Qualified many years ago. In Stroke, here in Forth Valley, for the last 20 years. Have watched us progress from bedrest to TED stockings and AVERT trials.
Why am I passionate about Stroke? I kind of fell into Stroke nursing and found my niche. It's so interesting. What the brain can do. Humanity is also amazing, how people cope with such huge changes in their lives.
The more you know, the more you realise that you don't know that much. That the huge impact Stroke has on people from the survivor to the family, friends etc I want to use the knowledge that I have built up over the years to help people to understand Stroke more. Whether they are student nurses, public or stroke survivors.
I have been a SSNF member for many years and joined the committee when I took on the role of specialist stroke nurse here at Forth Valley 5 years ago. It helped me to meet others in a similar role, supported me in working out what I could do in this role. Everyone's job description is so different in each Health Board area, but we support each other to progress the role.
Area Rep - Greater Glasgow North
Eileen Cowey is the Professor of Nursing Studies and the Head of the Nursing & Health Care School at the University of Glasgow. She started her nursing career in 1991 and worked in various acute and community settings before moving into clinical stroke research and higher education. Eileen holds a PhD focused on end-of-life care in stroke and has published on topics like continence management, pain management, and palliative care after stroke, with a special interest in mixed methods studies. She’s collaborated with clinical and academic colleagues to create some online educational resources in stroke care (STARS) and has a strong track record of enhancing research projects through partnerships. Eileen has also led the development of several best practice guidelines in stroke care. Currently, she leads the Nursing team at the University of Glasgow, preparing new nursing graduates to join the workforce and equipping them with the skills and knowledge they need to excel, including those who specialize in stroke care.
Area Deputy Rep - Lanarkshire
Area Rep - Northern Islands
What region/area do you represent?
I represent the Shetland Islands. Working in a remote and rural setting offers unique challenges and opportunities in delivering stroke care, and I’m passionate about ensuring equitable access to high-quality services for patients across all areas of Scotland.
What is your current job role?
I am a Stroke Specialist Nurse based in Shetland. My role involves providing expert assessment, coordination, and ongoing support for people affected by stroke, from acute management through to rehabilitation and secondary prevention. I also work closely with the multidisciplinary team to enhance local stroke pathways and promote best practice.
What led you to your current role?
I was drawn to stroke nursing because of my interest in neurological conditions and my desire to support patients through what can be a life-changing experience. Over time, I developed a strong interest in improving outcomes and continuity of care for stroke patients in rural settings. This passion, combined with my experience in acute and rehabilitation care, led me to take on a specialist role where I can help drive service development and patient-centred improvements.
What made you want to join the committee?
I wanted to join the SSNF committee to help represent the voice and perspective of nurses working in remote and rural areas like Shetland. I believe it’s important that the challenges and innovations from smaller services are recognised and shared across Scotland. Joining the committee also provides a valuable opportunity to collaborate with colleagues, exchange ideas, and contribute to advancing stroke nursing practice nationally.
What makes you passionate about nursing/stroke nursing?
I’m passionate about stroke nursing because it allows me to make a real difference at every stage of a patient’s journey — from acute care to long-term recovery and prevention. Stroke care is dynamic and continually evolving, and I find it incredibly rewarding to support patients and their families as they adapt and rebuild their lives. The combination of clinical expertise, education, and compassionate support makes stroke nursing a deeply fulfilling and inspiring area of practice.
Area Rep - Tayside
Laura Douglas represents NHS Tayside as the Clinical Coordinator for Stroke and Neuro Rehabilitation, based at Royal Victoria Hospital in Dundee. The service is hosted at RVH and provides specialist care for neuro patients from across Tayside and stroke patients from Dundee and Angus.
Laura’s commitment to stroke care began early in her nursing career. As a staff nurse in the early 2000s, she was part of the team that established the dedicated stroke unit at Ninewells Hospital. This experience sparked a deep interest in stroke care, leading her to complete a diploma in stroke nursing. She later transitioned to community hospital care, where she furthered her expertise by completing a Master’s degree in Advanced Nurse Care.
Since February 2024, Laura has held her current role, where she continues to advocate for high-quality, patient-centered stroke and neuro rehabilitation. She is passionate about the transformative progress in stroke care over the past two decades—from thrombolysis and thrombectomy to advancements in rehabilitation—which have significantly improved outcomes for patients and their families.
Laura’s motivation to join the committee stems from her desire to contribute to strategic improvements in stroke services and to ensure that nursing perspectives are central to service development. Her passion for stroke nursing lies in its potential to make a profound difference in patients’ lives during some of their most vulnerable moments. She believes that compassionate, skilled nursing care is pivotal in helping patients and families navigate the challenges of stroke recovery.
Area Rep - Western Isles
Area Rep - Grampian
Org Rep Deputy - Stroke Association
Area Rep - Dumfries and Galloway
Area Deputy Rep - Highlands
My name is Rachel Duff, and I am a Hyper-Acute Stroke Nurse Specialist working within NHS Highland. In my role, I have the privilege of being involved at a critical stage of the patient pathway, where timely assessment and intervention can have a significant impact on outcomes.
Through my experience, I’ve seen how essential rapid recognition, escalation, and coordinated multidisciplinary working are in delivering effective stroke care. While we continue to make improvements, challenges remain in maintaining consistently fast response times and ensuring seamless communication across services, particularly in a geographically diverse area like the Highlands.
I am particularly passionate about ensuring high standards in hyper-acute care, including timely thrombolysis, accurate assessment, and ongoing monitoring. However, I also recognise the importance of looking beyond the acute phase. Supporting patients and families through what is often a sudden and life-changing event is a fundamental aspect of our role as stroke nurses.
Ongoing education—for both healthcare staff and the public—is key to improving outcomes. Increasing awareness of stroke symptoms and the urgency of treatment remains vital, as does maintaining and developing nursing competencies within specialist roles.
I am keen to engage with colleagues across the forum to share experiences, learn from different approaches, and explore ways we can continue to strengthen stroke services and patient care.
General Member - General Member
Lisa Kidd works as a Professor of Nursing at Glasgow Caledonian University. Lisa has been a committee member of SSNF since 2014 and is the current SSNF representative on the UK Stroke Forum Coalition and Conference Planning groups. Lisa is a stroke researcher and leads a programme of research on life after stroke, particularly in the area of supported self-management and its implementation in practice. Lisa is a strong advocate for the involvement of people with lived experience and stroke nurses in stroke research.
Area Rep - Lanarkshire
General Member - General Member
General Member - General Member
Healthcare Assistant Representative - General Member
The Scottish Stroke Nurses Forum is steered by a main committee with members representing stroke nursing from across Scotland.
The committee has two available vacancies at the moment:
Vacancy (x1) for General Member
To apply send your application to [email protected]
2nd Floor, Hobart House
80 Hanover Street
Edinburgh
EH2 1EL
0131 225 6963
SUPPORTED BY
Registered with and regulated by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (no SC018761), Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland is a wholly Scottish charity.
It also operates as CHSS and is registered in Scotland as a company limited by guarantee, no SC129144
