Therapy services

Physiotherapy
The RNRU is committed to maximising an individual's physical potential within the context of their unique presentation and situation.  We offer one-to-one therapy, group therapy and a range of adjuncts to standard therapy.  We have considerable experience with a variety of treatment modalities and have a selection of tools to use to develop physical abilities. These include de-weighting systems, splinting skills, botox injection, mobile arm supports, Functional Electrical Stimulation, muscle stimulation, assisted ergometers, and Saebo dynamic upper limb orthoses.  We also have access to a large range of standard gym equipment such as treadmills, free weights and weight machines, static bikes and orbital trainers.  We aim to maximise an individual's physical abilities by shaping a package of intervention through high level clinical reasoning and negotiation.

Speech and Language Therapy on the RNRU
The Speech and Language Therapy team offer specialist assessment, management, advice and support to people with acquired communication and swallowing difficulties following brain injury.

We offer these services to patients within individual and group sessions as well as working jointly with the multi-disciplinary team to offer patient centred rehabilitation.  We work with patients to identify their strengths and needs. We assess the effect these are having on participating with everyday tasks as well as meaningful roles and future plans.

We work closely with friends and family to offer other interventions such as collaborative brain injury education, conversation partner training, pre-vocational rehabilitation and a videofluroscopy clinic for specialist dysphagia assessment.

Clinical Neuropsychology
Clinical neuropsychologists use their knowledge of psychological theory and the structures of the brain to assess and treat the emotional, behavioural and information processing difficulties that may result from brain injury. Although we work in a variety of ways it is usual to find a clinical neuropsychologist using formal assessment tools to identify which functions might be impaired or intact (such as memory, perception, attention) and offering strategies that either restore or compensate for these functions. We also offer talking therapies to individuals, couples and families to think about how life might be different after a brain injury. We work collaboratively with our patients and other professionals to ensure that our involvement leads to recovery that is meaningful and leads to greater independence in life.

Occupational therapy can be found here

Leisure programme

As part of their on-going multidisciplinary rehabilitation patients are offered Leisure activities run by the Leisure & Volunteer Co-ordinator, volunteers and the help of other members of the multidisciplinary team.

The Leisure Programme offers patients on the RNRU the opportunity and support to take part in a variety of leisure activities facilitating return to previous enjoyed hobbies or a chance to explore new activities. The programme is adaptable depending the patients’ needs and interests and offers group activities including Reading Group, Book Club, Gardening, Film Club, Music Group, Bingo night and Quiz Night amongst others and also one to one activities including pampering sessions, board games, teaching computer skills or piano lessons or other tailored interests. Community visits to places such as cafes, the library, sports centres, cinemas and galleries are also a priority for the programme, enabling patients to experience life outside the unit, with appropriate levels of support. We facilitate Individual Shopping trips to big shopping centres such as Westfield – an otherwise too overstimulating and daunting activity for our patients – facilitating reintegration back into community.

The Leisure plan offers two concerts a month provided by the Charity Music in Hospitals & Care, and other performances by other professionals volunteering at the unit. Two big annual entertainment events are also organised as part of the Leisure Programme, often inviting back patients who have left the unit, to visit the staff and friends they had made during their stay on the RNRU.

The Leisure Coordinator also facilitates trips to Headway East London for patients to experience what is on offer. And if requested other trips to local community services before the patients are discharged.

We offer Pet as therapy dogs in partnership with the national charity Pet As Therapy

Strong links have been made with Leyton Orient Football Club and visits to Football Matches are arranged as well as visits from the players to the Unit.