Stroke Supported Discharge

Patients recently discharged from hospital

You have been referred to the Stroke Supported Discharge Team following your hospital stay or by your GP.

A member of our administrative or therapy team will contact you shortly after your discharge. Depending on your individual needs, you may be supported by Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and/or Physiotherapy. You can find more information and advice on each of these services below.

Our aim is to support your recovery by helping you manage and improve any stroke-related symptoms you may be experiencing. This may include physical, sensory or visual changes, speech and language difficulties, swallowing, cognition, mood, or fatigue. We will also support you to return to the activities that are important to you.

If you are at home, you may also be contacted by a Stroke Specialist Nurse, who can support you with medical questions and advice, including preventing further strokes.

While we aim to contact you as soon as possible, waiting times can vary depending on the number of referrals and staff availability.

The team will usually work with you for around 6–8 weeks. If you meet your goals within this time, you may be discharged from the service. If you need further support, we will consider whether ongoing therapy through the Community Neuro Rehabilitation Team or referral to other services would be helpful.

We understand that returning home after a stroke can be challenging, and you and your family may have questions or want to begin rehabilitation as soon as possible.

Below, you will find helpful advice and useful contacts to support you while you are waiting to hear from our team.

Click here to explore guidance from the professionals supporting your discharge and recovery

Medical issues

 

  • Consider contacting your GP or 111 for advice. In an emergency or if no medical review is available at home, then please contact 999.
  •  Contact your GP or District Nurse team if you require help with maintaining skin integrity or managing incontinence.
  •  Contact you GP or Pharmacy if you require Medication advice.

 

Self-monitoring

Please monitor your blood pressures regularly. This will help inform medical professionals and our team of any issues.

Keep a record of your symptoms and any challenges you have faced following discharge. Also, any Stroke related questions that you have. This will help our team to understand how to support you best.

  If you feel there have been changes that were not noticed in hospital, you can let members of the Stroke Supported Discharge team or your GP, and they can get in touch with us to ensure you receive the right support.

Self-Management

Understanding Neuroplasticity and the importance of Repetitive practice is important.

Neuroplasticity is how your brain rewires itself and heals after a stroke. When there is damage to the brain, neuroplasticity allows your brain to rewire and reorganize new connections around the damage. For example, if your stroke damaged part of the brain which controls movement in the body, then you may have an impaired leg movement. To improve leg movement, you can engage neuroplasticity to rewire your brain. This is done through repetitive practice.

  • Repetitive practice involves practicing an activity over and over and over, leading to better stroke rehabilitation outcomes.
  • Once home, continue with the repetitive practice of exercises/activities/advice that has been prescribed by the hospital therapists/medical team. If you experience any challenges or changes in your ability to follow these then please keep a record of this and discuss with SSD Therapists.
  •  Initiate contact with the Stroke Association – a charity dedicated to supporting people affected by Stroke.
  • If you are a carer and feel you may need support, contact Actions for Carers – a charity that provides free, independent information, advice and support to unpaid carers of all ages.

Social Care

Contact your Locality team at Social Services. Locality teams provide tailored adult social care, including assessment, carer support, planning, and safeguarding, through local teams based in district/borough offices and hospitals.

The main contact for Adult Social Care is 0300 470 9100.