Occupational Therapy: Acute Stroke and Rehabilitation

The Acute Stroke and Rehabilitation team are part of the Occupational Therapy (OT) department.

Occupational Therapists work on the Acute Stroke Unit and rehabilitation ward at Sunderland Royal Hospital.

Nursing staff may refer patients to OT during their stay; an occupational therapist will visit the ward to gather information about how patients managed daily activities before they came into hospital and to ask them about any concerns before they return home. Therapists work very closely with other professionals to ensure patients are safely discharged from hospital with the correct levels of care.

Occupational Therapists wear green trousers and white tunics.

Access to the Occupational Therapy Department is via entrance 8 (Rehabilitation) at Sunderland Royal Hospital, B level.

The nearest car parks are outside the Surgical Day Case Unit and the main Outpatients car park off Chester Road.

The Occupational Therapy Department provides a seven day service between 08:00 to 16:30 each day.

Occupational Therapy 0191 5656256 extension 42412

Divisional General Manager Jackie Butterworth

Directorate Manager Mandy Bates

Clinical Director Mary Spearman

Clinical Manager Jill Graham

Acute Stroke and Rehabilitation Team Leader Sarah Tutin

Occupational Therapists with expert knowledge of stroke and long term conditions oversee the care of all patients with input from support staff. Patients on the Acute Stroke Unit and rehabilitation ward will receive regular assessment and reassessment from Occupational Therapists.

Patients may require OT to practice everyday tasks such as getting into and out of the bed. If patients are struggling with these tasks the therapist will show the patient equipment that may help them after they are discharged home. Further recommendations may be made for patients, such as practices of tasks to improve mobility and transfers (such as getting on and off beds, toilets and in and out of the bath) or how people will manage at home in the kitchen after they are discharged.

Occupational Therapists make recommendations for carer support or for further rehabilitation after discharge from hospital. This may be provided at home by community teams or in a local bed based rehabilitation facility.

Therapists assess cognition and may complete specialist assessments to gain further information on the impact of the stroke, long term condition or disability. For some patients a visit to their own home may be carried out from the ward, to see how patients manage in their own environment.