The National Stroke Network was refreshed in 2023 in line with the establishment of National Clinical Networks programme, including the introduction of a co-leadership model. The Network’s membership was confirmed following an expression of interest process and this new NSN is now responsible for developing a National Stroke Model of Care and Workplan detailing key initiatives that will advance the NSN vision and ultimately help improve the outcomes of people who are at risk or who have experienced stroke.   

The National Stroke Network (NSN) was previously formed in 2011 as a joint initiative between the Ministry of Health and the Stroke Foundation New Zealand. This was to facilitate implementation of the 2010 New Zealand Clinical Guidelines for Stroke Management. 

Regional stroke clinical networks were established as an important mechanism for achieving implementation.

Vision

“All people living in Aotearoa at risk of stroke, and those that have suffered a stroke, will have access to an equitable, accessible, cohesive, and people-centered system that improves their health and wellbeing”

The NSN has also identified a set of core principles that represent the network and helps define our culture of the Stroke Network. These principles will help guide us through the development of the work required to achieve our vision.

  • Equity – We are committed to recognising the needs of different communities. We will adapt stroke services and care approaches to best meet those needs, so that everyone in Aotearoa has the opportunity to prevent first or subsequent strokes and recover from stroke with the best possible outcomes.
  • Person and Whānau-centred care – People experiencing stroke and their whānau are at the centre of what we do. What is important to them will drive and shape the care and support that they receive now and into the future.  
  • Clinical Excellence – Our services will be informed by recognised New Zealand and international best practice. It will incorporate the knowledge and experiences of those living with stroke within our communities. Ensuring we provide clinical excellence with skill and compassion.
  • Te Tiriti led – The services we provide and the way that we work will be guided by the principles and articles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
  • Nationally and regionally organised – Services will be consistent and coordinated throughout the motu and be delivered by competent regional and national structures. 

Objectives

  • Develop the models of care and service standards in stroke prevention and care in Aotearoa. With the central goal of eliminating inequity and unwarranted variation in stroke.
  • Collaborate with regional stroke networks and key stakeholders to agree to a consistent implementation of care across Aotearoa.
  • Identify and support key programmes of work that require national planning and implementation.
  • Support and lead national workforce development initiatives in stroke care.
  • Develop and maintain processes to monitor progress in system change, delivery and outcome of stroke care.
  • Maintain networks across the sector to support productive relationships with consumers, whanau and health professionals working with people experiencing stroke.

Strategic group members

Membership of the National Stroke Network strategic group has been confirmed.

Members were selected based on their area of clinical expertise and speciality, experience and location, to ensure wide representation across the country.

Name

Role

Location

Alan Davis 

Co-Lead for National Stroke Network 

Northland

Tracy Murphy 

Co-Lead for National Stroke Network 

Hawke’s Bay

Alicia Tyson  

Clinical Nurse Specialist

Chair, Central Region Stroke Network  

Wellington 

Amanda Van Elswijk  

Clinical Nurse Manager 

 Whanganui 

Anna Ranta  

Stroke Neurologist/Academic (UoO)

 Wellington

Felicity Bright  

Academic (AUT)/Speech Language Therapist 

Auckland

Auckland/AUT

Geoff Green  

Geriatrician/Stroke Physician 

 Counties-Manukau 

Jessica Keepa  

General Practitioner 

Clinical Advisor, Living Well, Commissioning

Hastings 

Jo Lambert  

Chief Executive, Stroke Foundation 

 

Wellington 

Jon Bagnall  

Physiotherapist/Clinical Manager 

Chair, Australia and New Zealand Stroke Organisation – Aotearoa Division 

 Auckland 

John Fink  

Stroke Neurologist 

Chair, South Island Stroke Network 

 Christchurch 

Jonathan Armstrong  

Allied Health Advisor & Educator (ABI) 

Auckland 

Kylie Head  

Consumer 

Auckland 

Stephanie Thompson  

Allied Health Lead/Physiotherapist 

Wellington 

Te Aniwa Reedy  

Consumer 

Wellington

Vanessa Trotman  

Allied Health Manager/Physiotherapist 

Waitematā

Scope and workstreams

The Stroke Network will look to shape the delivery of better care through the patient journey and the efficient utilization of resources through a developed programme of work.  

The Stroke Network has specific areas related to the patient pathway and journey. The following areas of focus (workstreams) are seen are priority based on the impact and importance to improving services for stroke.  

  • Prevention 
  • Hyperacute Care 
  • Acute Care 
  • Rehabilitation & Recovery 

Meet the Network co-leads

Tracy Murphy

Tracy Murphy

Ngāpuhi 

Tracy is an occupational therapist with a special interest in stroke care spanning nearly 20 years of practice. 

She has clinical and project experience across the care continuum, from hyper-acute and acute care through to inpatient rehabilitation and early supported discharge services both in Aotearoa and the UK. She has led service development and project work contributing to the improvement and expansion of stroke and rehabilitation services. In 2014 Tracy completed her Masters research, investigating how occupational therapists navigate complex discharge planning for older adults. Since 2018 she has worked in a variety of leadership roles, including Occupational Therapy Professional Lead, Team Lead for multi-disciplinary inpatient services and early supported discharge teams and Clinical Lead for the Planning, Funding and Performance team in Te Matau a Māui. Tracy is now working as the Clinical and Academic Lead in the Health Equity team (SI&I) supporting implementation research that aims to close the life expectancy gap.

Since 2021, Tracy has continued to build on her knowledge through her study towards a Doctorate of Health Sciences, submitted for examination in July 2024. This kaupapa Māori research will determine how Māori clinical leaders want to be supported to thrive in Crown health organisations in Aotearoa. It aims to articulate the full scope of Māori clinical leadership work and understand Māori clinical leaders’ aspirations for support and growth.

Tracy is a tangata whenua director of Te Poari Whakaora Ngangahau o Aotearoa, the Occupational Therapy Board of New Zealand. Te Poari has implemented a co-chair model and is currently progressing its Te Tiriti committed governance model. 

Tracy is passionate about the National Clinical Networks’ commitment to Te Tiriti and aim to improve access and equity of health services across Aotearoa. 

Alan Davis

Alan Davis

Alan is a respected leader in the field of Stroke prevention and care, with over 30 years clinical experience building on qualifications from Auckland, Otago and Victoria Universities, and Fellowships in Internal Medicine and Medical Administration. 

Based in Whangārei, Alan’s significant experience spans a wide range of clinical specialties across several countries in both private and public sectors. His specialist areas have included  medical oncology, liver medicine, rehabilitation medicine, general internal medicine, geriatric medicine, bioethics and stroke medicine. 

Alan has held clinical leadership and network leadership roles in Stroke, Person and Whānau centred care, long term conditions, medication safety, health information technology and healthy ageing, clinical governance roles up to Associate Chief Medical Officer, and management roles up to Group Manager level.

His external agency experience extends to governance roles in Hospice/Palliative Care, Ageing and Dementia, and school governance. 

He has a Masters degree in Bioethics and Health Law, with a focus on equity and variation in stroke care across Aotearoa.

He is looking forward to using all of his experience to support the advancement of equity and access to high quality stroke care across our communities. 

Contact us

If you have any questions about the Stroke National Clinical Network, please email: nationalstrokenetwork@tewhatuora.govt.nz and one of the team will be in touch.