Typical patient journey
On your admission to the ward initial assessments are made by medics and therapists.
A three week discharge date is provided as an initial starting point whilst assessments are completed. Rehabilitation sessions are timetabled on a daily basis during weekdays. All therapy areas are adjacent to the ward.
You can find out therapy times in the evening for the following day. Therapy can be as an individual session, as a joint session with other therapists or in a group.
The ward offers goal planning meetings, best interest meetings and family meetings where you and your loved ones are able to meet with the members of the MDT (multi-disciplinary team) involved in your care. This enables the team to discuss with you your progress and plan agreed goals for the future and may also consider discharge plans.
Goal planning meeting are usually within a week of admission and the family meeting is usually scheduled about two weeks after the first MDT discussion.
Your rehabilitation may include planned home visits with your therapists, day leave, weekend leave and access to the minimal care flat. This will be discussed with you when it is appropriate.
The length of stay on the ward varies depending on each person’s needs, but this can be between two weeks and up to several months.
During your stay on Complex Neuro Rehab you will be allocated a bed. However, due to your needs or the needs of other patients, you might need to be required to change beds and wards. If you become acutely unwell during your stay, then you might need to be transferred back to the LGI or St James’.
Activities and groups
We have a number of groups which may run on the ward at anytime, depending on patient need. These may include brunch/baking, gardening, crafts, brain injury education, quiz, bingo, board games, chat / conversations and news.
We also use student volunteers to run social groups (including chat, craft and quiz groups) at the weekend between 2:00pm and 4:00pm on a Saturday and Sunday.
Leave agreements
As part of your rehabilitation you may have the opportunity to spend time outside the hospital setting. This may include having time away from the ward in the community for a couple of hours or having time back in your own home environment. This will be discussed with your consultant, nursing and therapy team alongside you and your family and a written agreement will be in place with particular recommendations and advice to follow.
Minimal Care flat
At Chapel Allerton hospital we have access to a flat with a living area, sleeping area, bathroom and working kitchen. During your rehabilitation you may spend some time in this flat with and without staff. The flat provides a space to practice everyday living skills. It can help you and the therapy staff identify any difficulties and provide information about the support you may require on leaving hospital.
The flat is also used by patients, family and friends as a quiet private space away from the ward. Should you think this would be beneficial for you, raise this with a member of staff who can liaise with relevant therapy, medical and nursing staff to determine if this is safe and appropriate. We recognise this is important to our patients and their visitors.
Access to support, funding and donations
Support for patients
There are a variety of support networks available for patients and families during their hospital stay and on discharge.
Please consider these services: