PATIENTS with neurological conditions in Rugby will have extra help with their rehabilitation thanks to the Friends of St Cross.
The charity has provided the Hospital of St Cross with two additional electrical stimulation devices for the Rugby Early Supported Discharge (ESD) Team.
The first machines, donated in 2018, brought a new service to Rugby which helped with the rehabilitation of patients who had suffered a stroke and were used to strengthen muscles, reduce tightness and help lift the foot when a person is walking.
When Friends chairman Willy Goldschmidt heard the service had been successful and that there was often a waiting list, he proposed donating two more machines.
The Trustees, who were most impressed to hear the team had continued to teach patients how to self-manage the devices by video during the pandemic, agreed to the proposed purchase.
Neurological Physiotherapist Katherine Thomas from the St Cross ESD team said: “Patients suffering from a large range of different neurological conditions, including stroke, brain injury, cerebral palsy and spinal cord injury, are offered a one month trial of a machine.
“On average one patient a month has found using the machines beneficial and has been referred to the West Midlands rehabilitation service in Birmingham to have a machine permanently set up for them.
“There is currently a one year waiting list for the trial service in Birmingham so being able to offer a trial service for Rugby residents is a great benefit to all concerned – even those who find that the device does not work well for them.
“This saves them waiting for over a year to be seen in Birmingham for the same outcome.”
The Friends have also donated some upper limb exercise equipment which will be used as part of the GRASP programme to improve upper limb function in stroke patients.
In addition, two weighing scales will allow the team to accurately work out if a patient is having adequate nutritional intake, or requires intervention or referral.
Katherine has provided two case studies which demonstrate the benefits gained by use of the Functional Electrical Stimulator devices. Visit www.fsx.org.uk for more information.
