The Calderdale Early Supported Discharge Team for Stroke has made some changes to how it delivers the service, with some fantastic results for patients. 

The principles of early supported discharge are that patients can be discharged home from hospital as soon as their rehabilitation needs can be met in the community, and that rehabilitation is delivered at the same intensity as the patient would receive in hospital. To ensure that the service meets these standards, staff have changed how they work, with time being ring-fenced for stroke rehabilitation, weekly multi-disciplinary meetings to discuss patient progress and goals, weekly planning of patient visits within the team, and gaining additional staff posts. The team also have access to psychology support, with monthly psychology supervision to support the patient pathway. 

The proof of success has been in some of the patient outcomes achieved since changes have been made over the past few months, and one of the patients agreed for us to tell his story. 

Christopher Dorward - pictured here with our Stroke Rehabilitation Assistant Jason Bellamy.- had a stroke in Sept 2019. In early November, after a period of rehabilitation on the stroke rehab wards, Chris was able to be discharged home as he had met the criteria of needing 2 people to support his rehab. He was transferred home with the early supported discharge team and the reablement team working together to best meet his needs. Chris had a period of 6 weeks therapy and reablement. Initially, he required support from 2 carers to assist mobility and activities of daily living four times a day. On top of this, he had daily therapy to support this progress. 

On discharge from the service, Chris had improved to the point where he was independently mobile within the home, and able to complete his own activities of daily living, requiring no formal long term support. This was achieved through close joint working between reablement and therapy and everyone communicating progress closely and regularly reviewing and discussing this progress with both Chris and his wife. 

Chris reports that “'The Halifax stroke staff are as good as you're ever going to get . The staff are amusing, caring although at times overworked!. Therapy and reablement staff worked well together, therefore if I progressed in therapy this was continued within the daily reablement care calls. “ 

Chris is able to continue his rehab with our long term conditions pathway and is hoping to be able to mobilise outside independently ready for the spring! A great team effort.