A NEW community neuro rehabilitation team has been launched to deliver a service to North Manchester residents.
Funded by Manchester Healthcare Commissioning Team, the service started in September 2017 and is based at Charlestown Health Centre, which is part of the North Manchester Care Organisation.
The team will work alongside the community stroke team to form the community stroke and neuro rehabilitation service and provide specialist multidisciplinary neurological rehabilitation to people who have a neurological problem including progressive conditions.
This can include motor neurone disease, Parkinson’s disease, later stage Multiple Sclerosis, cerebral palsy and Huntington’s disease; or sudden onset of conditions including traumatic brain injury and spinal injury.
As a single point of contact for all stroke and neurological referrals, the team provides a comprehensive community-based assessment and neuro-rehabilitation service which comprises occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, specialist nurses, neuro-psychology, rehabilitation practitioners, a consultant presence and administration support.
Service manager Tracy Walker, said: “By developing a more robust integration across the patient care pathway from hospital to community care, we ensure the timely discharge from hospital for patients. We also focus on the prevention of unnecessary hospital readmissions for patients who have a neurological diagnosis, and support for patients already living in the community.
“Our care is delivered in a number of different settings, including patient’s homes, residential and nursing homes, intermediate care settings and any other local environment which is relevant to each person’s care.”
Around 300 patients per year are expected to use the service which is provided six days a week from Monday to Saturday.
Roger Duckenfield from Failsworth was referred into the service having recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. He has received input from the physiotherapist, occupational therapist and rehab assistant within the team, working on joint mobility, strength, gait, balance and upper limb dexterity. He said: “Before I was referred to the service, I felt unsure about the future. Since receiving input from the team I have more confidence both mentally and physically and I can see a future now.”
Stroke patient Karen Ghilas from Droylsden, said: “The team gave me hope, were realistic and helped me set goals to achieve. They gave me a whole package of care and made me feel that I was a person and that I mattered. When you ring the office, everyone knows you by name and you know that you are not just a number.”
Tracy Walker, said: “This is an exciting time for community neurological rehabilitation in Greater Manchester with the opportunity to deliver a robust, innovative model of neurological rehabilitation which will provide responsive, equitable, multidisciplinary care, and will be a pioneer for future delivery across Greater Manchester.”
