Groundbreaking stroke rehab pilot frees up physios' and OTs' time to focus on one-to-one care
Andy Kerr – a physiotherapist by background – has said he is ‘delighted’ with the early results of a study that he has been leading at University Hospital Wishaw in Lanarkshire.
The Technology-Enriched Stroke Rehabilitation Hub project has increased rehabilitation opportunities for people shortly after they had a stroke, paving the way for better recovery outcomes.
Dr Kerr, a reader in rehabilitation engineering at the University of Strathclyde’s Department of Biomedical Engineering, said: ‘Our research group has been developing this technology enriched intensive model of rehabilitation for several years and we are delighted it has now been tested with the people that really need it.’
He added: ‘The outcomes of the pilot are really encouraging and are a testament to working in partnership with the NHS and [Innerva], our industrial partner.’
At present, the average NHS stroke patient receives 34 minutes of combined rehabilitation therapy each day: 14 minutes of physiotherapy, 13 minutes of occupational therapy (OT) and seven minutes of speech and language therapy (SLT). This falls far short of the latest National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines, which recommend three hours of daily therapy, five days a week.
Rehab time 'tripled'
The trial at the rehabilitation hub has almost tripled patients’ daily rehabilitation time, adding an average of 53 minutes of additional therapy, bringing the daily total to 87 minutes.
Gillian Sweeney, an OT and advanced practitioner for stroke rehabilitation, set up the hub and oversaw developments. She said: ‘The results of this 10-month pilot are extremely encouraging. Our early findings show that the hub’s group sessions are both safe and effective and patients are receiving substantially more therapy. Patients began accessing the rehabilitation facility within days of experiencing a stroke with some continuing for up to four months until they were discharged.’
Patients receive a bespoke programme designed by NHS therapy staff and can visit the hub daily for up to two hours at a time ... where they are guided by Band 2 and 4 rehabilitation and nursing support staff [Gillian Sweeney]
Innerva equipment on hand
Located in the hospital’s stroke unit – Lanarkshire's largest – the hub offers a range of integrated technology to address the motor, cognitive and communication impairments caused by stroke. This includes a treadmill with specialist harness, a balance trainer and cognitive and virtual reality equipment. Patients can use Innerva’s power-assisted equipment, which allows users to exercise passively or actively, depending on their stage of recovery.
The pilot, which involved 50 people aged 30-plus to 90-plus, has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from patients, their families and NHS staff.
Participants said they benefited from increased physical and mental activity, the opportunity to leave the ward and the chance to connect with others with similar experiences.
Crucially, the staffing resources were freed up. Experienced support staff conducted 86 per cent of the sessions, allowing physiotherapists, OTs and SLTs to focus on patients needing one-on-one care.
Rehab outcomes 'transformed'
Dr Sweeney noted: ‘This model has proved to be a cost-effective way to increase the intensity and frequency of stroke rehabilitation. Patients receive a bespoke programme designed by NHS therapy staff and can visit the hub daily for up to two hours at a time, on top of their normal therapy, where they are guided by Band 2 and 4 rehabilitation and nursing support staff.'
She added: ‘The ability to cater for five to six patients at a time means patients can access the intensive therapy they need to transform their rehabilitation outcomes.’
The pilot has sparked widespread interest across the NHS, leading to the creation of a working group aimed at breaking down the barriers to implementing similar models nationwide.
Managers at NHS Lanarkshire have committed further funding to staff the hub, while additional funding bids are underway to secure its future and expand into further NHS and community sites.
Innvera are 'thrilled' by success
David Heathcote, Innerva’s head of business development, said: ‘We are thrilled to have supported this pioneering project, which could serve as a blueprint for establishing similar rehabilitation hubs in the NHS and community settings across the UK, offering stroke survivors more accessible and effective rehabilitation options.’
To watch a video about the pilot featuring users and staff, click
The project is funded through the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council’s Impact Accelerator Account. The University of Strathclyde partnered with NHS Lanarkshire to launch the Technology-Enriched Stroke Rehabilitation Hub at University Hospital Wishaw to help meet the latest NICE guidelines.
Author: I A McMillan
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