Page 17 - Community Health magazine - issue 38

But working in a more integrated way can
help this and we want to explore this as part Ask the expert
of our pilot.
Our vision is physiotherapists, occupational Vicky Pout, Lead Therapist at the Westbrook House
therapists, speech and language therapists Stroke Rehabilitation Centre, Margate.
and dietitians working seamlessly to provide
the best possible therapy for people. The first thing we do here at Westbrook
We can also offer our colleagues the Why is therapy so important
opportunity to progress into more senior or when people are recovering? is make sure everyone is up and dressed
early. Breakfast is served in our communal
specialist clinical roles, providing attractive Evidence shows you recover much faster if dining area, not in bed. Patients can then
career pathways for people and encouraging you get up, get dressed and keep moving go to our day room for activities or they
them to stay with us. as much as possible while in hospital – and might go to the gym with a physio or
get home quickly to maintain and build a rehab assistant. It’s based on a model
your independence. Lying in bed makes pioneered in Norway called the Trondheim
your muscles rapidly weaken, so it’s harder Model of care. We’re calling it the
for you to get moving again. ‘Westbrook Model’.
Taking an active role on your own
If you’ve been in a large hospital for a
recovery will really help. If you’ve had a while, you might have become used to
stroke, it’s doubly important to get your people doing things for you, but doing as
muscles working as soon as possible.
much as you can for yourself from getting
Why is it better to get up and dressed, preparing your own drinks,
home sooner? playing board games in our day rooms –
all help you regain your independence.
Hospital are busy places, with lots of
interruptions. Normal routines and sleep Do family and friends have a
are vital to recovery, so the faster we can role to play?
get you can get back home, the better. The Carers are a vital part of someone’s
Louise Ward, KCHFT’s Community longer your hospital stay the more you are at recovery process as they will be the ones
Hospitals Assistant Director, said: “At the risk of being exposed to hospital-associated who will help to continue a patient’s
moment our community hospital colleagues infections and developing pressure sores. recovery once they are home. We really
do an amazing job at caring for people, but Isn’t it the physiotherapist encourage friends and family to be part of
we need to modernise the way we work. who provides the rehab? the rehabilitation journey and we welcome
“We want to develop centres of them to the ward as often as possible.
excellence for rehabilitation, that When we talk about rehabilitation,
consistently deliver better patient outcomes, it’s a whole programme of activities
rewarding careers for colleagues and a that take place throughout the day,
sustainable model for the future, by providing not just physiotherapy.
care that is nurse and therapy-led and joined-
up with other health and care services.”

How can you get involved?

hat do you think about our vision
for better rehabilitation? We hope
Wto trial this new model during the
winter in two of our hospitals. This work is
part of our new We care strategy.
If you or someone you care for has
received care in one of our community
hospitals in the past year and you
would like to give you views on what
we can improve and work with us,
email kentchft.engagement@nhs.net
You can read more about how you can
get involved at www.kentcht.nhs.uk/
rehabandrecovery

www.kentcht.nhs.uk 17