Patient Experience
The Early Supported Discharge (ESD) for Stroke Service allows patients who have had a stroke to be discharged home from hospital earlier than otherwise possible. They continue with assessments and rehabilitation in their own home, under the care of specialist therapists. Patients get home quicker and are able to be more independent sooner. It is best practice for stroke rehabilitation.
The ESD for Stroke team consists of a physiotherapist, an occupational therapist, a speech and language therapist, a medical social worker and a therapy assistant who provide specialised stroke assessment and therapy and a rehabilitation plan that is tailored to your needs.
Your medical team or therapists may discuss the option of ESD with you while you are an inpatient in the hospital. If you are suitable for ESD, they will ask for your consent and then refer you to the ESD team.
The ESD team meets regularly to discuss your progress, and ensure you are on track to achieving your goals. The team usually offers support for up to six weeks. If you need a longer period of rehabilitation than that, you can be referred onwards to community services.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is a healthcare profession concerned with human function and movement and maximising potential. The physiotherapist will work with the patient to rebuild strength and exercise tolerance post-stroke, and to improve gait and balance. The therapist will help the patient to recover their mobility, independence, and confidence.
Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy aims to maximise a person’s independence in their activities of daily living. This may include personal care activities such as washing and dressing or more complex activities such as completing meal preparation or returning to work. The occupational therapist can also provide guidance on making changes to the home environment to promote independence and safety.
Speech and Language Therapy
Speech and Language Therapy specialises in the assessment and management of individuals with swallow and communication difficulties post-stroke. The speech and language therapist can offer therapy to patients and their families to aid them to reduce the impact of these difficulties on their day-to-day lives and promote independence.
Social Work
The medical social worker works as part of your ESD team and aims to support you and/or your family/carer with additional psychological, social, practical and/or emotional difficulties that may have arisen following your stroke. The medical social worker offers short term counselling and emotional support. They also offer to liaise and advocate with other community-based services on your behalf.
Your medical social worker can provide you with information regarding social welfare, welfare assistance, medical cards, housing and financial concerns. They also advise and support with accessing additional community-based supports in both the voluntary and statutory sector. These may include primary care services, referrals for additional home help and home care package support, and liaison with advocacy and support groups, where assessed as needed.
The ESD for Stroke Service only accepts referrals from medical teams/ therapists within St James’s Hospital, and only for current inpatients.
Working hours are 8 am - 4 pm
If there is no answer when you call, please leave a voicemail message with your name and contact details. We will get back to you within one working day.
Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4.30 pm