Neurorehabilitation and Therapy Services

The Neurorehabilitation unit (NRU) is an 18 bedded level 1 rehabilitation unit situated in the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery.

It provides post-acute care for people over the age of 16 who have suffered from acquired brain injury, spinal cord injury or peripheral neuromuscular disorders, and who as a result have physical and/or cognitive impairments. People admitted to the unit have a range of diagnoses including stroke, traumatic brain injury, hypoxic brain injury, spinal cord injury, brain tumours, infections of the brain (encephalitis or meningitis), or Guillain-Barré Syndrome.

Individuals are admitted directly from hospital following the new diagnosis, once their treating team think they are ready to undertake specialist rehabilitation. We assess patients’ suitability for admission via a multi-disciplinary team assessment.

Our unit delivers a high intensity programme of rehabilitation within a stimulating environment. This may not be suitable for every patient with an acquired neurological condition, in which case we are often able to make an alternative recommendation to the referring team.

Patients typically come to us from:

Stroke units
Major trauma centres
District general hospitals in/around London

The aim of the rehabilitation admission is to optimise an individual’s function, to enable them to return home and participate in life roles which are meaningful to them, and to support them in their journey with their new diagnosis.

We aim to help the person with all aspects of their life including communication, thinking skills, mobility, personal care and leisure or work roles. Many of our patients are young and are in work or have parenting roles. It is therefore essential to work not only with them but also their families or carers to minimise the impact their diagnosis has had.

We liaise with local authorities and community therapy teams in order to help patients transition into the community once their inpatient rehabilitation is completed. Three - six months following discharge, we offer a one-off out-patient appointment to follow up any outstanding issues, before passing care back to the patient’s local services.

Our large team is made up of specialist doctors (specialising in neurology, physical and rehabilitation medicine, and neuropsychiatry), rehabilitation nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, psychologists, social workers, rehabilitation assistants, administrators and domestic staff.

Patient contact

Neurorehabilitation unit
2^nd floor Albany Wing
National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery 
Queen Square
London, WC1N 3BG

Referral

Inpatient referrals

We offer weekly neurorehabilitation assessment clinics where our patients are assessed by a multidisciplinary team. We are only able to admit patients who are currently already admitted into hospital and cannot admit patients directly from home (unless in exceptional circumstances). We accept referrals from across and around London.

Teams refer directly to our service using Badgernet or via email to uclh.qsneurorehab@nhs.net.

Neuro-rehabilitation has a multidisciplinary team approach to patient care. The MDT team has expertise in neuro-rehabilitation and work together to develop plans to meet individual patient's needs.

The team works in many areas of the hospital, including the NRU, and comprises:

Consultant neurologists

Consultant neurologists manage overall patient progress during a patient's stay and co-ordinate treatment plans.

Nursing team

The nursing team provides 24 hour support and encouragement to patients in order to help patients achieve as independent of a lifestyle as possible. Working closely with other team members, the nursing team helps patients to continue rehabilitation programmes beyond therapy sessions.

Nurses are also available to discuss any problems patients may have with bladder and bowel difficulties and can make referrals to the hospital continence advisor and urologist if this is required.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapists will address difficulties with body movement and help patients achieve the greatest level of physical activity after leaving the unit.

Occupational therapy

Occupational therapists work with patients with neurological conditions who have problems managing their everyday activities such as work, leisure, and self-care tasks (e.g. dressing, household tasks or cooking meals). Occupational therapists work with patients to identify areas of difficulty and devise a treatment programme to overcome these problems.

Speech and language therapy

Speech and language therapy assess and treat people with communication and/or swallowing disorders. They help patients in finding better ways of communication or retraining the muscles used to speak and swallow.

Dietician

Dieticians will advise on diets and special foods to help patients achieve optimum nutrition. They will also work closely with the speech and language therapists to help people with swallowing problems.

Psychology

Our psychologists help patients who have difficulties with memory, concentration or thought processing skills.

Social worker

Social workers provide help and advice regarding housing, employment, finances and benefits. They also allow for patients to express and explore thoughts and feelings about their disabilities.

Services include:

Physiotherapy
Speech and language therapy
Occupational therapy
Neuropsychology
Social work
Medical care
Specialist nursing care
Hydrotherapy
Outings
Specialist discharge planning
Spasticity services, including focal spasticity management with Botulinum Toxin, splinting and casting
Shoulder pain multi-disciplinary ward round
At-bedside ultrasound diagnosis and focussed steroid injections
Orthotics
Video fluoroscopy and FEES swallow assessments
Wheelchair technician
Brain injury education group
Relaxation group
Capacity assessments, best interests' decision making

We aim to offer a comprehensive, responsive multidisciplinary service to all those who would benefit from input. Our aim is to optimise an individuals’ physical, psychological, social and vocational (or educational) function.

Adults of any age or level of disability with neurological conditions are seen. Individuals may be seen by one or more therapists from physiotherapy, occupational therapy, or speech and language therapy.

Our outpatient services include: