Timeline: Greece

Prof Manika spent time with each member of the CF Multi-Disciplinary Team – specialist nurses, physiotherapists, dietitians, pharmacists, social workers, CF psychologist, specialist Microbiologist and palliative care team. We provided her with protocols in each of these areas and particularly pharmacy protocols for IV antibiotics. In addition, Prof Manika attended adolescent transfer clinics run in the paediatric department, the purpose of which is to smoothly transfer adolescents over to the adult CF service. Prof Manika spent time with our service manager who discussed organization and delivery of CF services, which included management of a Multi-Disciplinary Team, infrastructure and logistics around maintaining an efficient, well-resourced service.”   “My training on CF care in Adult Cystic Fibrosis Service in Southampton England has been a multidimensional experience which I hope will change my every-day work in Greece. I would like to thank all the members of the multidisciplinary team for their time and for sharing their knowledge and experience with me. I am also grateful to the Child Health International and in particular Mr. Jim Hopwood, chairman of the board of trustees of CHI for making this training possible. I would especially like to thank Dr Mary Carroll for coordinating this complex training, for introducing me to a different and wider way of thinking on CF care, and for always making me feel welcome.” 

September 2016, a physiotherapist from Thessaloniki where there are 50 CF adult patients, spent a week with the team in Southampton, funded by CHI.

In summer 2016, two physios from Athens attended training in Belgrade organised by CF Europe.

On the 29th February 2016 two Athens physiotherapists visited Southampton for one week. This was a great success and both physiotherapists reported that they had learnt much useful physiotherapy techniques. [Financed by funds raised in memory of Dr Kechagia.] Following this Dr Diamantea director of the Athens centre spent 3 months the in Southampton CF department observing all aspects of CF care. This included a two week visit to Harefield hospital lung transplant centre. [Funded by a grant from the European Respiratory Society]

First CHI visit April 2014 Dr Mary Carroll, Director CF Southampton Adult Service, Dr Valia Kechagia CF Clinical fellow, Mrs Tes Hodson CF nurse specialist, Mr Rod Halls, CHI representative, made a 2 day visit to Sismanoglio hospital in April 2014. Day one comprised of a visit to the Athens department, a 15-bedded ward to meet the staff and patients. Day two comprised a presentation to the patients, invited by the Hellenic Cystic Fibrosis Association, and staff of Sismanoglio hospital. Follow up Subsequently 2 Greek physiotherapists and the newly appointed director of the Athens service, Dr Diamantea and the head nurse Mrs Anna Tazarni have visited Southampton adult centre. In addition Dr Carroll has visited Athens on 3 further occasions with members of the Southampton Adult Multidisciplinary team to talk at Conferences and to see Greek patients, all organised by the Greek patients. [Financed by funds raised in memory of Dr Kechagia.]