The NeuroRehabilitation Online team (NROL), hosted at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT), has been awarded 12 months of funding to continue its work to support stroke survivors and people living with neurological conditions.
The NROL programme was originally developed during the pandemic by SameYou in partnership with University College Hospital London, providing online therapy across Lancashire and South Cumbria. It delivers cognitive, communication and physical therapy via video calls, enabling more therapy to be delivered and therefore better outcomes for patients.
Funding from a SBRI Healthcare competition will support the expansion of the NROL model across Lancashire and South Cumbria, Cheshire and Merseyside and adapt the digital platform to improve the service for its patients and enable even more people to benefit from the service.
Jenny Clarke MBE, CEO of SameYou, said: "We are delighted to see NROL awarded this funding. The programme has already delivered remarkable outcomes for patients and this funding will help us provide even more support for those in need. It’s essential for stroke survivors to know that they can regain control of their recovery journey and NROL plays a vital role in empowering them."
NROL has been highly successful, with stroke survivors reporting improved physical recovery and better well-being. Many patients value the ability to access therapy from the comfort of their home and the expert advice provided.
Adam Partington, NROL Project Lead at ELHT, commented: "NROL has been a joy to be involved in, from being a therapist delivering online sessions to now leading the service. This funding will allow us to continue our great work, improving access to therapy for patients. I hear countless stories from patients about the positive impact NROL has had on their recovery and it’s incredibly rewarding to witness their progress. We are thrilled to collaborate with such a dedicated group of partners who share our goal of improving patient care."
The funding is part of the SBRI Stroke competition and will enable collaboration between NHS clinicians, leaders from Lancashire and South Cumbria, Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Systems, Lancaster University, MedTech innovators ELAROS, SameYou and Health Innovation North West Coast. The SBRI competition was launched in July 2024 and open to organisations involved in innovative projects that support early diagnosis, rehabilitation and life after stroke.
Louise Connell, Professor of Allied Health Rehabilitation at ELHT and Lancaster University, added: "Clinical academic roles are essential in bridging research and practice to ensure that innovative rehabilitation models like NROL are evidence-based and sustainable. Our collaboration will ensure telerehabilitation is embedded within routine care and help strengthen stroke and neurological services, making high-quality rehabilitation more accessible to patients."
NROL has also been recommended and supported in the recent Stroke Association: 10-Year Health Plan, further solidifying its value in the national rehabilitation landscape.
For more information on the SBRI funding and the projects it supports, click here.