New partnership with Stroke Association announced by Surrey disability charity QEF

DISABILITYcharity Queen Elizabeth's Foundation for Disabled People (QEF) has announced a new partnership with the Stroke Association in Surrey for clients of their Care and Rehabilitation Centre. The partnership will see stroke clients on the East Surrey NHS stroke pathway receive one to one support with their transition home, helping to reduce anxiety and increase connections with their local community services.

Returning home after a life changing event such as a stroke can be a daunting time for an individual and their family. A person may be left with acquired disabilities which fundamentally change their life and what they are able to do, some of which may be hidden and hard to explain to loved ones and friends.

The expert teams at QEF's Care and Rehabilitation Centre support people straight from hospital with neuro rehabilitation and nursing care to recover as many core skills as possible. This often includes regaining the use of limbs affected by the stroke - often down one side of the body, possibly learning to walk again and regaining the ability to swallow safely, speak and communicate with others. Their neuro rehabilitation team include physiotherapists, speech and language and occupational therapists, as well as clinical psychologists.

The psychologists at QEF's Care and Rehabilitation Centre work with a stroke patient and their family or care giver to help people adjust to the changes in all their lives and find a new way forward. This new partnership with the Stroke Association will be an important part of supporting people to find this new way forward.

As part of the NHS Stroke Pathway, people referred to QEF from East Surrey Hospital will meet with a Stroke Association Coordinator on a one-to-one basis prior to their discharge home. The aim is to ease the anxiety and stress over discharge for both the individual and their carers/ family members, as well as opening important channels of communication. Support from the Stroke Association will then continue for up to a year post discharge to help people adapt to their new normal and achieve their personal goals.

More information on the services at QEF's Care and Rehabilitation Centre is available at www.qef.org.uk/service/crc and for information on the Stroke Association's services in Surrey visit www.stroke.org.uk/finding-support/support-services

During 2024, Louise Naylor, Paul Moore and Emma Way, who all have limited physical ability, will cycle more than 1200 miles over five legs averaging 55 miles per day. They will visit the twelve National Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Centres throughout the UK and Ireland to raise awareness and funds for Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES).

To support the success of the challenge, sponsors are needed to reduce costs and ensure maximum fundraising for CESCI.

Sponsors can support the event in many ways from financial sponsorship to equipment. All offers will be gratefully appreciated. Premium event sponsor packages are available.

With the support of our sponsors, all public fundraising, open in 2024, will go straight to those in the community living with Cauda Equina Syndrome.

For more details and information email backaround2024@gmail.com