About Rakehead
Rakehead is a rehabilitation centre for patients with complex neurological needs.
It is a purpose built single storey rehabilitation unit with 17 beds:
- Ten single rooms
- A two-bedded room
- A four-bedded room
- An assessment and rehabilitation apartment
Bedrooms are allocated according to patients’ care needs and at times patients may be required to move bedrooms in order toaccommodate this.
There are three level access shower rooms with adaptations.
All bedrooms have televisions and wash-basins. Nurse call bells are available in all bedrooms and throughout the building.
Rakehead benefits from a large dayroom with dining area,conservatory and garden area with seating.
The Rehabilitation Team at Rakehead include:
Rehabilitation Assistants
Domestic staff
Ward Doctor
Housekeeper
Occupational Therapists
Ward Clerk and Admin staff
Consultant
Physiotherapists
Rakehead Community Neuro-Rehabilitation Team (RCNT)
Speech and Language Therapists
Nursing staff
Neuro Psychologist
What to expect during your stay
The team at Rakehead provide specialist neurological assessment and rehabilitation to patients who may have problems caused by damage to the brain, spinal cord or nervous system e.g. following a stroke, head or spinal injury. We aim to help you achieve the optimum level of functional independence and quality of life required to enable you to be discharged from hospital.
Rehabilitation may be aimed at restoring functional independence or learning to adapt and compensate for difficulties.
The therapy team works Monday to Friday with the exception of Bank Holidays. They will provide you with a weekly timetable of planned therapy sessions. The appointment times are approximate due to the unpredictable nature of rehabilitation. You may also receive additional unplanned sessions.
The nursing team work Monday to Sunday 24 hours per day and for each shift there will be a nursing team allocated to your care.
Medical Team: The unit is led by a Consultant in Neurological Rehabilitation supported by on site and on call medical staff.
Physiotherapy: Neuro-Physiotherapy is a “hands on”treatment aimed at maximising the physical and functional potential of patients with neurological problems. Each patient will be assessed in relation to their specific movement patterns, balance and strength. A treatment plan is then designed to focus on maintaining and improving the quality of these impaired movements.
Occupational Therapy: All patients admitted are assessed by Occupational Therapy to identify their rehabilitation needs and goals. This will include discussion about hobbies, interests, home situation, normal routines and roles at home and may include assessment of cognitive, physical and psychosocial needs in order to develop ameaningful treatment plan.
Occupational Therapy enables patients to regain as much independence in daily activities as possible such as being able to feed self, get washed and dressed, make a meal and use the toilet. Occupational Therapists also assess a patient’s ability to return home from hospital by assessing the home environment, taking patients home to assess their abilities in their own environment if appropriate and where required, will advise of alternative accommodation and places of care on discharge.
Speech and Language Therapy: The Speech and Language Therapists at Rakehead carry out assessments and therapy for patients with swallowing and acquired communication impairments as a result of neurological conditions. Meaningful but realistic goals are set by patients and therapists. Treatment may include group sessions such as communication support groups as well as 1:1sessions.
Neuropsychology: A clinical neuropsychologist is a psychologist who specialises in the assessment and treatment of behavioural, emotional and cognitive (thinking) problems. Whilst in Rakehead Rehabilitation Centre some patients may be referred for neuropsychological assessment by their clinical care team. Neuropsychological assessment involves completing a series of tasks similar to quizzes and puzzles such as solving problems, memory tasks and word games on a 1:1 basis with the neuropsychologist on the ward. The findings from this assessment can then help the clinical care team to build on patients existing skills and support the team to identify ways to compensate or reduce some of their difficulties.
Patients may also be referred to neuropsychology for support to cope with the psychological impact associated with living with neurological conditions such as anxiety and low mood.
Nursing Team: The nursing team consist of RegisteredNurses, Rehab and Health Care Assistants. They will help you to continue your rehabilitation outside of therapy sessions and provide your daily care needs, support with medication and carry out clinical observations and treatment as required.
Ward Rounds: A ward round is held weekly where you will be able to discuss your care and treatment with members of the team. If you or your family wish to speak to individual members of the team, appointments can be arranged.
Review Meetings: Regular meetings are held with the rehab team, yourself and family (if you wish) to discuss and update you on your progress with rehab goals and discuss discharge planning. This is an opportunity for you to ask questions and raise any issues. The date and time will be displayed in your room.
Rehabilitation Goals: You, your relatives and the team will discuss and agree meaningful and realistic goals to work towards. These will be regularly reviewed.
Discharge Planning: From the start of your inpatient admission, the team will begin to discuss and explore options for discharge. This may include care and support, ongoing rehabilitation and discharge destination. A predicted date will be set for your hospital discharge. However, this will be reviewed in your review meetings and may change according to your needs. When the team feel that you no longer require input at Rakehead and your needs can be met in the community, appropriate arrangements will be made. This may include a referral to the Rakehead Community Neuro Rehabilitation Team for ongoing rehabilitation after discharge.
Rakehead Community Neuro-Rehabilitation Team: A referral may be made to the community team near to your discharge date if you need ongoing rehabilitation after discharge. The team will meet with you prior to discharge to discuss your ongoing rehabilitation needs and goals and will arrange an initial visit.
Weekends: Rehabilitation is hard work and can be tiring; therefore, weekend is a time to relax! However, the nursing team will support you tocontinue to work on any treatment plans you have been given by therapy staff. Some patients when nearing their discharge date may begin overnight and weekend stays at home.
Focus group: We welcome patients and relatives to get involved in the unit focus group. This is an opportunity for you to engage in discussions about future events and what you would like to see at Rakehead. This is also a chance for you to give us some feedback about what we do well and what could be improved.
Meal times: We have a large dining area where all meals are served. Meal times are protected, therefore, visitors are respectfully asked to leave the dining area during these times. Some relatives may be involved in assisting therapy or nursing staff as part of rehabilitation and so will be able to stay in the dining room at these times.
Activities and group therapy: Recreational and therapeutic group and 1:1 activities will be offered to support your rehabilitation.
What to bring with you: All you need to bring is comfortable day and night clothes and toiletries. Home comforts for example music/photographs may be brought in, however, there is limited storage and bedrooms must be kept clutter free. All belongings that are brought onto the unit will remain your responsibility. Rakehead will not be held responsible for any loss or damage.
Visiting times: We welcome visitors please check with the unit for further details around time of visiting. Tiredness can impact on patient therapy and progress, therefore, we respectfully ask that visitors consider rest periods.
Infection control: Please be aware that in line with Hospital Trust policies you may be required to spend a short time or the whole of your admission in a single room, depending on the results of any infection screening. Visitors may also be required to wear gloves and aprons.
Drug and alcohol use: East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust has a strict policy in place explaining a zero tolerance on unacceptable behaviour. The use of alcohol and drugs is not permitted and patients may be asked to leave if using non-prescribed substances.
Smoking: This is a non-smoking site. Referrals can be made to the smoking cessation service if required. Staff are not permitted to assist patients to leave the unit to smoke. The use of e-cigarettes is not permitted.