Adelaide nurse honoured with top stroke award

Lizzie Dodd, who works at the Royal Adelaide Hospital in South Australia as a Stroke Nurse Consultant, has been labelled ‘instrumental’ in driving patient improvements across the state.

Miss Dodd says it is a great honour to receive the award, which was handed out in front of hundreds of health professionals at the Stroke 2018: Bridging the continuum conference in Sydney last week.

“The Stroke Care Champion Award has given me renewed energy for projects within the stroke unit at the Royal Adelaide Hospital,” she says.

“To be viewed as an inspiration to some of my colleagues makes me walk taller and try harder.”

As part of her nomination for the award, Miss Dodd was described as someone who demonstrated remarkable compassion, dedication, insight and empathy – consistently going above and beyond her regular duties to deliver excellent care to patients and their families.

The award nomination also made note of Miss Dodd’s ability to ensure decisions regarding acute stroke management are made quickly and correctly in a smooth and efficient manner, despite the hectic demands of the stroke unit at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

Stroke Foundation Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sharon McGowan congratulates Miss Dodd on her achievement, also thanking the nurse for her commitment to improving outcomes for patients and reducing the burden of stroke in the state.

“With more than 5,000 strokes expected in South Australia this year alone, we need champions like Miss Dodd to lead the way in stroke treatment and care,” Ms McGowan says.

“Stroke is a devastating disease which attacks the brain and changes lives in an instant, but it can be treated and it can be beaten.”

Almost 40 health professionals were nominated for the 2018 Stroke Care Champion Award, including neurologists, stroke nurses, occupational therapists, speech therapists and researchers, with seven people – including Miss Dodd – named as finalists.