About SSNF

The Forum

The first meeting of the SSNF was in 2001, by the end of the first year the SSNF had a membership of 150 and this has continued to grow year on year and now has nearly 600 members. Each health board has a committee member and they are responsible for sharing and promoting the SSNF, recruiting new members, sharing good practice and work with other members to achieve the SSNF aims. In 2017 the first Health Care Assistant (HCA), Norma Moir took her place on the committee and she has since then represented HCA from across the country.

Since the inception of the SSNF we have been supported by Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland (CHSS) and until 2018 by Boehringer Ingleheim (by an unconditional education grant). Since 2001 the SSNF has had representation and forged links with the National Advisory Committee for Stroke, Scottish Stroke Care Audit/ Stroke Improvement Plan, the UK Stroke Forum, Cross Party Talks Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke, The Scottish Stroke Knowledge into Practice, Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN), Scottish Research network and Quality Improvement Scotland/ Health Improvement Scotland Best Practice Statement Development Groups and has been involved and part of projects with many other charities and groups. In 2020 the SSNF has produced guidance and documentation for the newly developed Thrombectomy Service which will see new and exciting development of roles within stroke nursing.

The SSNF Conference

In 2002 the first SSNF Conference was held and these are now held annually in September. These conferences have attracted nursing and AHP staff from across the UK and are very educational, informative and cost effective. Any profit from the conference is divided between the SSNF and our partner CHSS. Booking for the annual conference opens in May and the early bird price runs until the end of July. If you are interested in being involved in helping to set up or supporting the conference please get in touch with the chairperson of the SSNF for more details

SSNF work-plan

In 2003 the first SSNF strategy and work-plan (PDF) was developed and this is updated every 4 years. The strategy and work-plan tie in with the current Scottish Government Action Plan for stroke and highlight issues for nursing involvement, development, improving patient / family care, education and research. The SSNF work-plan for 2017 to 2022 (PDF) has just been completed and this can be viewed by clicking on the link or under documents. If you would like to be involved in any of the groups or in helping to achieve the SSNF goals please get in touch.

Education and Research support

The SSNF developed the Scottish Supplement of the Hospital Education Folder in 2003 and since then has continued to be involved in developing and supporting education and learning tools. These include the Stroke Core Competencies in 2004/5, The Stroke Training and Awareness Resources (STARs) from 2006-2020, The Knowledge and Skills Toolkit for Stroke Unit Nurses (SCoT 2010/11), Best Practice Statements on End of Life Care, Management of Pain and the most recently on Vision. In 2015 The Stroke Game (Focus Games) was launched at the SSNF 2016 conference and this is now being used as a learning tool across Scotland. The Education Group is led by Linda Campbell, NHS Highland. If you would like to be involved please get in touch.

The SSNF supports nursing research in stroke. In 2006 Determining Nursing Staff Levels for Stroke Beds in Scotland was published and this work is currently being further explored and updated in conjunction with the UK Stroke Forum. In 2006 the SSNF commissioned the Stroke Evaluation Therapy Programme (STEP) to undertake a research programme to investigate what the key issues are for stroke nurse in relation to future research. The project was funded by a research grant from CHSS and was published in 2009. In 2014/15 in conjunction with the NMAHP Research Unit a further research award from CHSS allowed the SSNF to ascertain the Top 10 Life after Stroke Research Priorities for Nurses. This will be published in 2016. Members of the SSNF are also participating in research and each year requests are received to approach members in the stroke research of others. The Research Group is led by Anne Rowatt, Napier University. If you would like to be involved please get in touch.

The SSNF has also produced a number of articles that have been published in journals, Brain Attack mnemonic to assist with assessment and nursing care of acute stroke patients (2009), Stroke Nursing in Scotland (2009) and in 2011/12 a series of articles on stroke were published in the Nursing Standard that were written by members of the SSNF. More recently the Top 10 Life After Stroke Research Priorities for Nurses was featured and we also publish a bi-annual SSNF Newsletter in the Spring and Autumn. If you would like to contribute to the Newsletter then please contact Katrina McCormack, CHSS or the SSNF chairperson.

The SSNF is FREE to join and is open to all nursing staff and student nurses with an interest in stroke. If you would like more information or to find out who your local representative is, Get to Know the Committee.