My stay at the Wolfson unit

I have recently come out of the Wolfson unit for neurorehabilitation, at Queen Mary’s Hospital, Roehampton, under the St George’s University Foundation Trust.

I had a 12 week inpatient stay in the Gwynne Holford Ward. The ward consists of mainly neuro patients, although there is some amputee patients. The amputee patients and neuro patients have separate treating teams and go to different gyms. With the amputee patients using the Douglas Bader Rehabilitation unit. Socialising takes place altogether in one of the two dining rooms at mealtimes and in the bays. Overall, the aim for all patients is rehabilitation, leading to independence and enhanced quality of life, whether you are an amputee or neuro patient.

There were a variety of neuro patients with different illnesses from Functional neurological disorder (FND), strokes, Guillain-Barré syndrome and spinal injuries etc

I fitted in under FND as this is one of the illnesses I have. There were four FND patients there at any one time.

Some patients had come straight from acute hospitals locally, having recently become ill, whereas others had come from all over England and even Northern Ireland, and been unwell for many years. The later was generally the FND patients as it is a specialist unit of which there are very few.

I was in a four bedded bay. Generally, they were four or six bedded bays. There were a few side rooms which were normally kept for patients with infections.

You receive a timetable at the beginning of each week, which has all your appointments with different therapists on. It depends on your needs to who you will see but the unit has: doctors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, psychologists, dieticians and activity coordinators. The first two weeks are generally very quiet and you only have 2 or 3 sessions a day, whilst the therapists and different members of the team get to know and assess you. After the first two weeks it gets quite hectic, with up to 5 and on occasions 6 sessions a day. On top of sessions with the therapists named above there are many groups including: standing, fitness, gardening, relaxation, art, upper limb and lunch group. Lunch group involves a couple of patients making a dish they choose for lunch together. These groups are not all compulsory, some are optional and some you are recommended to attend. FND patients also have FND group twice a week, this involves learning more about FND and how best to manage symptoms. Bed rest can be put in to your timetable if you need it. I certainly did!

One thing I particularly liked about the Wolfson unit was their ethos. Kind, caring and respectful, yet determined to help you achieve and this came across in my treatment. It makes a big difference.

You have a goal planning meeting (GPM) every two weeks, with members of your treating team and which you are encouraged to bring a family member, so they can see how you are progressing and have the opportunity to ask any questions.

The weekends are very quiet, as there is no therapy. Some patients go on home leave if they are able to. I was lucky enough to go home each Friday evening and come back on a Sunday evening. For those who have to stay, there are two lovely activity coordinators, one of whom works each Saturday and provides activities and entertainment for patients. They also work several evenings as well as during the weekdays, often offering a film night or a game you can participate in. It makes a big difference. There is an activity room which can be accessed all day with books, games, a piano, a computer and craft activities. There are big TVs and many DVDs in both dining rooms, tea and coffee making facilities and a fridge for snacks or drinks you have bought in.

It is a great place which has certainly had a positive impact on my life. That is not to say it was easy. It was tough, both physically and mentally. It was exhausting and very painful, however the result and gains were amazing. I have achieved things that I didn’t know whether I would ever achieve. I am really proud of my gains. It is nice to know the hard work has paid off.
One improvement I made was strengthening my core. It may sound like a strange or insignificant thing, but from being in a bed or wheelchair for the last 14 years, my core was very weak. It has made such a difference to all aspects of my mobility and movement, as well as helping reduce some of the spasms I have in my core. I have learnt to turn myself in bed, something that I have not been able to do since I was 15 years old. I have improved my sliding board transfers and made great gains with standing and stepping as well as becoming more independent.

The Wolfson unit

There is still a long journey ahead and where I will get to on that journey is unknown but this is definitely a big step in the right direction.

Hannah x