New patient video shows journey of Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) rehabilitation
A new patient video has been made to explain what patients with a spinal cord injury (SCI) can expect when they are being cared for at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) and then move to the SCI rehabilitation centre in Sheffield.
NNUH is a trauma centre and has a dedicated team looking after spinal cord injury patients. Since January 2021 the team have given patients early rehabilitation to help reduce complications and hospital length of stay. Once patients are well enough, they move to the Princess Royal Spinal Cord Injuries Centre in Sheffield as they continue to work towards their recovery.
The Princess Royal Spinal Cord Injuries Centre is one of eight specialist rehabilitation centres in the country. Previously patients could spend several months at NNUH before being transferred to Sheffield, but since January 2021, a SCI transformation programme has been running with the aim of reducing patient’s length of stay in NNUH and in the rehabilitation centre.
The team at NNUH includes a spinal surgeon, a clinical specialist in spinal care, a lead spinal cord injury physiotherapist and a regional SCI psychologist. There is also now a dedicated therapy area to rehabilitate patients whilst they wait for a bed to become available in Sheffield.
As part of the SCI transformation programme the new patient video has been commissioned. Cherry Cubelo, Clinical Specialist in Spinal Care, said: “We commissioned the video so we can show patients what they can expect from their time here with us, the teams involved, the rehab we can do, and then what happens the other end when they are transferred to Sheffield. Some patients are understandably anxious about traveling from Norfolk to Sheffield and being away from their family, so we hope the video will help ease some of their worries.”
She added: “The early rehab we now provide aims to help patients start sitting up and getting up again. This has meant patients have fewer complications such as chest infections and pressure ulcers. Patients also receive psychological support which is a very important part of a patient’s recovery.”
Patients are transferred to Sheffield where they can spend a minimum of 6 weeks working with specialists who educate them about living with their injury, help to build confidence and provide emotional and physical support during their recovery.
The patient video can be found at https://www.nnuh.nhs.uk/departments/orthopaedic-amp-trauma/spine/