Welcome to the Stroke Therapy Rehabiliation Team
The Integrated Stroke Rehabilitation Team are a multi-disciplinary team consisting of Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Speech and Language Therapists, Psychologist, Advanced Clinical Practitioners and Rehabilitation Support Staff. The team cover Acute Stroke, Inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation and the Community Stroke Team who work across Pennine Lancashire.
As an Integrated Stroke Therapy Team, we offer stroke rehabilitation to all newly diagnosed stroke patients from admission to East Lancashire Hospital Trust, right through to the community. Therapy is provided in a variety of settings to meet an individual’s own needs.
The Stroke Therapy RehabilitationTeam will offer goal directed rehabilitation to all newly diagnosed patients admitted to hospital, right through to community for ‘up to’ 6 months post discharge for patients with a GP in Pennine Lancashire. The length of rehabilitation will depend on an individual’s goals and changes made throughout the rehabilitation journey. Therapy will be delivered in a range of ways which may include 1-1 treatments, group therapy sessions, online rehabilitation and self-directed rehabilitation (which are programmes given to patients to complete independently or with a carer between therapy sessions).
The Stroke Therapy Rehabilitation Team will carry out a person-centred assessment which is specific to the individual’s needs. The therapists will then agree goals and commence rehabilitation which will work towards supporting a safe discharge back into the community. The type of therapy received will be dependent on the difficulties a patient experiences after a stroke. The Community Team will continue working towards specific goals set once a patient returns home, or in another community setting such as a residential home, nursing homes or outpatient clinic settings.
The Stroke Therapy Team provide rehabilitation on the Acute Stroke Ward based at Royal Blackburn Hospital, while the Inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation Team is based at Pendle Community Hospital. All patients who have a confirmed new diagnosis of stroke will be seen by the Therapy Team, while patients requiring a longer period of rehabilitation in hospital will be transferred to inpatient rehabilitation.
As a Therapy Team we continually aim to promote independence while patients are on the unit. To assist in the assessment and rehabilitation process we encourage families or carers to bring in the patient’s personal belongings including their glasses, hearing aids, dentures, loosely fitted clothing to wear in the day and appropriate footwear (trainers, velcro or lace up shoes or slippers with a rubber sole).
All patients treated by the Stroke Team will receive an onward referral to the relevant Community Stroke Team in the locality that you live in.
Our Community Stroke Service receives referrals for all patients with a new diagnosis of stroke when a patient is discharged from hospital. Therapy may be delivered in your own home, a care home, outpatient clinic or local community centre. Patients must have a Pennine Lancashire GP to be referred into the service.
GP referrals are accepted for patients with a confirmed diagnosis of stroke within the last 6 months, who have not received stroke therapy on the inpatient pathway.
In the community, many of our patients attend groups or outpatient clinics for treatment. We recommend bringing any medication or inhalers you may require during your treatment, along with a drink or snack for after your session. We also ask that you consider wearing loosely fitted clothing and suitable footwear (trainer or flat shoes with a good nonslip sole) to engage in your treatment session.
Some patients may be referred to NROL (Neurorehabilitation Online) – Click Here.
The Stroke Therapy Team is a multidisciplinary team consisting of Speech and Language Therapists, Physiotherapists, Psychology, Occupational Therapy, Assistant Practitioners and Advanced Clinical Practitioners. You may see one or multiple members of the team depending on your difficulties and goals.
Within the Team you will find:
Physiotherapists (PT)
Work with you to identify parts of your movement, sensation and balance that has changed following your stroke. They work with you to help you use both sides of your body and regain as much movement and strength as possible. They will help you to move your joints and muscles and will give you exercises and tasks to do yourself.
Occupational Therapists (OT)
Work with you to identify things that make it hard for you to do what you want to do in life. These could include physical difficulties or problems with memory and thinking, vision, or sensation, and problems such as anxiety. They will work with you to practice and develop your skills and confidence.
Speech and Language Therapists (SLT)
Assess your swallow, speech and language to see if they have been affected by the stroke. If problems are identified they will work with you to set goals and tailor therapy to meet your needs.
Advanced Clinical Practitioners
An Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP) in Stroke Rehabilitation works with stroke survivors and the therapy team to asses, diagnose and treat stroke patients across the stroke rehabilitation pathway. Using advanced skills they support clinical decision-making to manage therapy intervention, support complex patient needs, and contribute to service improvement and staff education, driving clinical practice that is evidence based and promotes best outcomes.
Assistant Practitioners
Work alongside our Therapy Team to deliver bespoke rehabilitation programmes set by OT, PT, SLT and our Psychologist. The assistant practitioners are key in delivering a number of our group therapy sessions, along with our stroke review clinics.
Psychologists: work with you to understand and manage how the stroke affects your emotions, thinking and reasoning, or behaviour. The stroke team psychologist can also work with family members, care staff, or other team members, so that they can support your recovery as well as possible.
The Stroke Therapy Team operate working hours between 08.30am – 4.30pm, Monday – Friday
Community Stroke and Inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation Team work Saturdays between 08.30am – 4.30pm
Acute Stroke Team work Saturday & Sunday between 08.30am – 4.30pm
Acute Stroke Therapy Team
Ward C3, Level 3
Royal Blackburn Hospital
Haslingden Road
Blackburn
BB2 3HH
01254 732153
Inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation Team
Marsden Stroke Unit
Level 1
Pendle Community Hospital
Leeds Road
Nelson
BB9 9SZ
01282 804978
Pennine Lancashire Community Stroke Team
Ground Floor
Pendle Community Hospital
Leeds Road
Nelson
BB9 9SZ
01282 803643
For details regarding visiting hours for any of the Stroke Wards please liaise with the ward directly as these may vary depending on current Trust guidance.
If you would like any further information or support, then please find the links below to wider support agencies
For Patients & Carers:
Stroke Association
Carers Link Lancashire
(Support unpaid carers across the boroughs of East Lancashire)
https://www.carerslinklancashire.co.uk/
Brainkind
Provide rehabilitation and ongoing support for individuals after brain injury
For Healthcare Professionals & Students:
Stroke-Specific Education Framework
https://stroke-education.org.uk
Health Education England
RCP Stroke Guidelines
NICE Stroke Guidelines