25 September 2025

A patient sitting in a hospital bed with a nurse beside the bed in a stroke unit room. The Lyell McEwin Hospital stroke service has made huge strides in patient care over the past 13 years, and Emelita Godfrey has been there for all of it.

The longest-serving member of the unit’s staff, the dedicated nurse continues to seek improvements in the delivery of care.

Stroke can cause extensive damage to the brain and is a leading cause of adult disability.

When Emelita joined the team, the code stroke service was a Monday-to-Friday operation in business hours but is now a seven-day service from 8am to 8pm. It is facilitated by the primary stroke centre known as the Stroke and Neurology Unit, or Ward 1E.

“Over the past 13 years I have seen major improvements in clinical standards, the evolution of treatment options and patient care,” Emelita says.

“Stroke Week for me is the time to reflect on how far we have come. But there is always more to do, more to learn, more to improve and more lives to save.”

Nurse Unit Manager Tick Wiriyakiat says Emelita played a key role in establishing the unit and continues to provide valuable support and guidance to junior staff.

“In November we’ll mark the 10th anniversary of the introduction of the Clinical Care Standard – Acute Stroke, which highlights the progress our team has made,” she says.

Stroke Week (4 to 10 August this year) is held to remind people about the signs of stroke. NALHN hosted guest speakers and information sessions and offered consumers stroke assessments and educational material.

The recommended test is FAST – Face, Arms, Speech and Time – and involves checking whether there is facial drooping, if the person can lift their arms or has slurred speech, and to call 000 as time is critical.