Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy in Stroke and Neurology Inpatient Services Information for patients
Welcome to the Stroke and Neurology inpatient therapy team. As part of your stay you may be assessed and treated by members of the multidisciplinary team which includes occupational therapists, physiotherapists, nurses, doctors, dieticians, speech therapists, stroke researchers and support staff. This leaflet has been given to you to help you understand how your occupational therapist and/or physiotherapist may be involved in your recovery. If you have any further quesions after reading this leaflet, please ask to speak to a member of the therapy team. Occupational Therapy What is occupational therapy and how can it help me? The overall aim of occupational therapy (OT) in stroke and neurology is to help you to be as independent as possible in everyday life. We can also provide support and advice to you and your carers and families following a stroke, a brain injury or if you have a long-term neurological condition. We complete assessments with you that help us identify what you may have difficulty with in everyday activities. These can be in any of the following: Washing and dressing Domestic tasks Feeding Transportation/driving Social/Leisure Activities Work. Your occupational therapist (OT) will then set goals with you and plan treatment sessions to work out ways of overcoming or coping with these problems. We can also give the nursing team advice on how to help you look after yourself on the ward, including the most appropriate equipment to use with you. This will be regularly reviewed. 2
What could an OT do to help me achieve my goals? Assessments of how the brain is thinking/processing information and support with developing useful techniques to improve this Working on independence in practical tasks such as washing and dressing, meal/drink preparation, shopping and managing money/bills Improving upper limb and hand function Group therapy sessions to work on difficulties such as problem solving, memory and arm movement Home/community visits to see if your home meets your needs for discharge and what can be provided to support you to be as independent as possible at home Assessment for specialised equipment to enable independence including wheelchair/seating assessments Advice/support in coping with the changes in your life after stroke/brain injury Work towards returning to work and driving Liaising with community services such as home carers, Social Services and employment services. Some of these assessments and sessions may be led by one of our occupational therapy technical instructors. 3
Physiotherapy What is physiotherapy and how can it help me? The overall aim of physiotherapy in stroke and neurology is to improve your physical ability to enable you to be as independent as possible in your everyday life. If you have had a stroke you will be assessed by a physiotherapist. If you have a neurological or medical condition, the nursing staff or doctors will request for you to be seen by a physiotherapist if you are struggling with limb weakness, balance or moving around safely. You will receive an initial assessment by a physiotherapist to establish your main problems and goals. The assessment can look at any of the following: Arm and leg movement, including problems with stiffness Moving around on the bed Getting out of bed and off your chair Sitting, including what type of chair you might need to sit on Standing, including equipment assessment and provision Stepping, including equipment assessment and provision Walking, including assessment and provision of mobility aids Your ability to cough up phlegm. Your physiotherapist will then agree a treatment plan with you and recommendations will be made to the multi-disciplinary team. This also includes giving advice to the nursing team on the most appropriate method to be used to help you move around on the ward. This may change during your stay with us and we will keep them updated. 4
What could a physiotherapist do to help me achieve my goals? Analysing and assisting with your ability to move and walk Provision of appropriate equipment to help you move and walk Recommendations about appropriate chairs for you to sit in Provision of exercises to complete alone or with your family to carry out between physiotherapy sessions. Practising rolling, getting from bed to chair and walking with nursing staff on the ward also helps to improve your ability to carry out daily activities If you are struggling to cough up phlegm you may be seen for a chest physiotherapy assessment and treatment. Some of these assessments and sessions may be led by one of our physiotherapy technical instructors. 5
What is the patient pathway? Every patient is different. A treatment and discharge pathway that is appropriate for your needs will be discussed with you by a member of the multi-disciplinary team. How will I know when I m ready to leave hospital? Planning for you to leave hospital starts from admission. You, along with your family (if required), will be contacted for more detailed information as to your previous abilities, any carer input and how you were managing at home. The multidisciplinary team will discuss your needs regularly with you and your family to update and plan what the next stage of your recovery is. You may have a family meeting arranged if appropriate to discuss further plans for leaving hospital and your progression to date. 6
You may need a further period of inpatient rehabilitation. This is identified by the multidisciplinary team and discussed with you and your family. Our inpatient stroke and neurology rehabilitation units are at Pontefract Hospital or Dewsbury and District Hospital. Patients with other conditions may be transferred to rehabilitation units in Wakefield, Pontefract or Dewsbury to continue with their rehabilitation. Some people do not require further rehabilitation or follow up. This will be discussed with you when planning discharge. You may be referred to services in the community on discharge from hospital. A member of the therapy team will give you this information before discharge. If you would like to discuss discharge further then please speak to a member of the therapy team. How long will the therapy team be involved in my care? This will depend on the findings your therapists make when they assess you on the ward and also in the community (if required). Your therapists will discuss this with you and will advise you when therapy is no longer needed. Please do not hesitate to speak to a member of the therapy team if you have any questions or concerns about the assessment process, rehabilitation and discharge planning. 7
How do I contact the therapy team? The therapy team is usually available on the ward at Pinderfields, Pontefract and Dewsbury Monday to Friday between 8.00am and 4.00pm. Occupational therapists wear white tunics with bottle green trim and bottle green trousers. Physiotherapists wear white tunics with navy blue trim and navy blue trousers. If relatives/carers are not able to visit during working hours but want to speak to an occupational therapist or physiotherapist please contact us (Monday-Friday 8am-4pm) on: Pinderfields Gate 2a, Acute Stroke/ Neurology Unit Pontefract Medical and Stroke Rehabilitation Unit Dewsbury Ward 10, Stroke/ Neurology Rehabilitation Unit Occupational therapy Physiotherapy Occupational therapy Physiotherapy Occupational therapy and physiotherapy 01924 542017 01924 542015 01977 747177 01977 747236 01924 319205 or 01924 541828 How will the therapy team store my personal data? The occupational therapy team store your data in an electronic record. The physiotherapy team store your data in a written record. Your consent will be asked before sharing this information with others. On discharge from the rehabilitation units at Pontefract and Dewsbury you will be given a discharge summary which will include details of your occupational therapy and physiotherapy treatment and ongoing goals if applicable. A copy of this will also be sent to your G.P. in either electronic or paper format. 8
Who can I contact for further information once I am at home? Community services for stroke: Locala Early Supported Discharge (ESD) Team Kirklees 01924 351563 07976 485923 Kirklees Stroke Association The Coach House, 11 Owler Ings Road, Brighouse, HD6 1EJ Kirklees 01484 720846 https://stroke.org.uk/finding-support/ kirklees-information-advice-support MY Therapy Early Supported Discharge (ESD) Service Wakefield District 01977 747471 Wakefield Stroke Association The Dancer, 8 Peterson Road, Wakefield, WF1 4EB https://stroke.org.uk/finding-support/ wakefield-stroke-support Wakefield District 01924 375600 Leeds Community Stroke Team Leeds 0113 8555082 Leeds Stroke Association Regional Centre, Unit 7 Killingbeck Court, Leeds, LS14 6FD Leeds 0113 2019789 https://stroke.org.uk/finding-support/ leeds-information-advice-support 9
Community services for neurology/long-term conditions: Locala Community Rehabilitation Team (CRT) Kirklees 01924 351563 MY Therapy Neurology Team Second Chance Headway Centre http://charity.schc.co.uk/ Email: info@schc.co.uk Wakefield District Wakefield and the surrounding areas 01977 747471 01924 366735 Leeds Community Neurology Team Headway Leeds Leeds 0113 8555082 Leeds 07926 456401 https://www.headway.org.uk/ branches/leeds.aspx Email: headwayleeds@ googlemail.com 10
Other useful community contacts: Gateway to Care Kirklees 01484 414933 Social Care Direct Single Point of Contact (SPOC - district nursing team) Wakefield District Wakefield District 0345 850 3503 01924 327591 Single Point of Urgent Referral (SPUR) Leeds 0113 8430222 11
Contact details Pinderfields Gate 2a, Acute Stroke/ Neurology Unit Pontefract Medical and Stroke Rehabilitation Unit Dewsbury Ward 10, Stroke/ Neurology Rehabilitation Unit Occupational therapy Physiotherapy Occupational therapy Physiotherapy Occupational therapy and physiotherapy 01924 542017 01924 542015 01977 747177 01977 747236 01924 319205 or 01924 541828 Monday-Friday 8am-4pm We are committed to providing high quality care. If you have a suggestion, comment, complaint or appreciation about the care you have received, or if you need this leaflet in another format please contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service on: 01924 542972 or email: pals@midyorks.nhs.uk To contact any of our hospitals call: 0844 811 8110 To book or change an appointment call: 0844 822 0022 www.midyorks.nhs.uk 1798b Updated May 2017 Review Date 2020 SMOKE FREE hospital Design: The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust - design and print dept