Neurological rehabilitation unit, Kendray Hospital
Information for patients, families and carers
This information explains what happens on the ward and what you, your relatives or carer can expect.
If you would like more information, please contact the ward on:
- 01226 644324
Or the multi-disciplinary team on:
- 01226 644322
About the ward
The neurological rehabilitation unit is an inpatient specialist rehabilitation ward. Our multidisciplinary team (MDT) provides individually tailored rehabilitation for people who have had a brain injury or other neurological condition (i.e. conditions affecting the brain and/or the signals from the brain to other parts of the body)
We work in a multi-disciplinary way, which means that staff from different professions work together towards a common goal to support rehabilitation. Staff are skilled, adaptable and communicate to effectively improve patient care whilst on the unit. We share knowledge and skills to maximise the rehabilitation opportunities for the patients. The patient is at the heart of the process and all staff work in a client centred, holistic way towards patient’s goals.
NRU is a consultant led rehabilitation ward. Our consultant provides direct input into the ward on a weekly basis. The consultant will regularly review your progress and receive updates from the staff team each week. The consultant is available to speak to patients, families, carers on a weekly basis. Family meetings are normally held on a Tuesday afternoon for more formal updates, rehabilitation progress and discharge planning.
In addition, NRU’s team manager, therapy team and ward leads are available for updates. The team manager and ward leads are responsible for the day to day running of the ward. They are based on the ward and will be involved in all aspects of your care, alongside the Therapy Team.
The rehabilitation tea
The rehabilitation team supports you to carry out your rehabilitation programme over a 24-hour period, 7 days a week. This covers all aspects of your daily routine, from morning routine, meals, mobility and transfers, communication and support of patients and their families/carers.
- Doctors work alongside the interdisciplinary team to enable you to achieve your goals. During your in-patient stay they will ensure that your symptoms are managed, eg pain, low mood. They can provide education to you and your family regarding your medical condition, treat you if you become unwell and make changes to your medication as needed.
- Nurses/nursing associates, rehabilitation assistants and healthcare assistants will help you to carry out your rehabilitation programme over a 24-hour period, 7 days a week. This covers all aspects of your daily routine, eg washing and dressing, eating and drinking, mobility and transfers, communication and support of patients and their significant others.
- Speech and language therapists (SLTs) will work with you to help improve your speech, language and swallowing abilities. The SLTs work as part of the MDT to provide assessments, and therapy plans around your individual goals. Therapy may focus on particular areas of speech and language or on work with you and your family/carers to help teach strategies and new ways of coping with changes in communication.
- Physiotherapists will work with you to help you achieve individual goals for movement and mobility. In physiotherapy sessions they may assess and advise on positioning and seating / wheelchairs. Treatments may focus on improving movement, strength, balance, co-ordination and mobility. The physiotherapist may also advise you, your family or carers and the team on how to assist you to move. They will provide individual exercises where appropriate.
- Occupational Therapists will aim to help you maintain or improve your ability and independence in daily activities. Occupational therapy sessions may involve practising and assisting with daily activities such as washing, dressing and kitchen tasks. This may involve exploring alternative ways of doing activities, for instance through providing aids for dressing or different ways to support your daily routines. Occupational therapists may also look at cognition (ways of thinking) by assessing memory, problem solving, planning and organising, and provide strategies to support your cognition when completing everyday tasks. As part of the discharge process occupational therapists can assess what support, equipment and/or home adaptations you may require.
- Therapy assistants will assist you to carry out therapy programs in conjunction with the qualified therapists. They also work alongside the rehab nurses and support workers to integrate your therapy programme into your daily routine.
- Clinical psychologists and psychology assistants will aim to support you during your admission to the ward. They routinely assess the emotional wellbeing of everyone who is admitted to the ward, as being in hospital and coping with the emotional impact of illness or injury can be challenging. The psychologists may also advise staff on ways in which the team can support you to get the best out of your rehabilitation.
- Other professionals provide regular input to NRU but are not based on the ward. These include dietitians, social worker, pharmacists.
The rehabilitation process
- Rehabilitation
- Assessment
- Setting goals
- Meetings
- Discharge planning rehabilitation
Rehabilitation
The purpose of rehabilitation is to enable and support you to recover or to adjust to changes due to your neurological condition. This is achieved through individual therapy sessions, multi-disciplinary working and group work provided by therapists and staff.
Assessment
On admission to NRU, you will be assessed by different members of the team to identify your individual rehabilitation needs. As part of the assessment process staff may wish to speak to family, carers or significant others to gather background information about previous abilities, likes, interests, and any current concerns. A questionnaire will be provided if appropriate for you to complete. Following initial assessment, appropriate goals for your rehabilitation will be set.
Setting goals
Following assessment, you, and where appropriate your family, will have the opportunity to be involved in and aware of appropriate rehabilitation goals with the guidance of the NRU Therapy staff who are involved in your care. These goals will be regularly reviewed and if required updated. A rehabilitation file which contains a copy of your goals is available outside your allocated room.
Meetings
During your stay you will be given the opportunity to meet with members of the rehabilitation team to discuss issues such as:
- Relevant medical information
- Findings from assessment
- Plans for rehabilitation
- Discharge planning
- Any concerns you or your family/carers have
- Goals
Meetings are arranged in advance and normally take place on Tuesday when the Consultant is available. This may be as a whole team meeting and/or with individual members of the team.
Discharge planning
Discharge planning will take place when your goals indicate that you no longer require inpatient rehabilitation and are ready to move to a community setting. The discharge process will continue alongside your rehabilitation to ensure you don’t remain in hospital any longer than you need to. This process may involve referrals to other professionals and services, for example, community rehabilitation teams, equipment and adaptations.
If you require care on discharge, the NRU team will assess your needs and refer you to the dedicated social worker who works within our team.
Will my rehabilitation stop when I leave NRU?
NRU provides only a part of the rehabilitation that you may require. Rehabilitation will often continue in the community following discharge to enable on-going needs and goals to be managed in a more relevant setting than that of a hospital ward. If at discharge you have achievable goals which need further rehabilitation, the NRU therapists will refer you to community-based rehabilitation teams.
When you are discharged you will be given an information pack summarising key pieces of information from your inpatient rehabilitation. It will also list any onward referrals to support you in your transition back to the community. You may also be advised to carry out regular activities as part of a daily routine to help with your ongoing rehabilitation.
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