Stroke patients benefit from new equipment

2012-07-18 09:37:00

Local people having rehabilitation following a stroke are now benefitting from a new piece of equipment that helps them to improve movement in their affected arm and hand.

The South West Essex Community Services stroke specialist hub team, who provide inpatient and community rehabilitation for patients within the first two years of a stroke, recently secured NHS innovation funding of £15,000 for the Saebo^TM hospital treatment kit. The kit, which includes a mechanical ‘splint’, arm support and a hoist, helps to optimise upper limb recovery through providing support to the weakened wrist, hand, and fingers.

Nikki Idowu, Physiotherapy clinical specialist explains:

“This piece of equipment is of benefit to patients who need help to re-develop movement in their upper limb following a stroke. The patient needs to already have a little movement in their arm, hand and fingers. The tension springs in the splint support movement, positioning the wrist and fingers in preparation for activity and assisting to re-open the hand to release objects.

The Saebo^TM equipment means we can now offer more in the way of intervention to more of our stroke inpatients in Brentwood Community Hospital, improving their quality of life and getting them home sooner.”

Mr Graham Goddard, who is recovering from a stroke, has seen real benefits from the new equipment, and so kindly donated an additional £800 towards the purchase of further equipment. Mr Goddard explains:

“I am very grateful for all the support that staff at Brentwood Communty Hospital have given me, so I decided to make a donation to aid other patients on their road to recovery.”

<< Go back