COVID-19 and Stroke Services |
Please note that there may be changes to teams and visiting due to COVID. |
This service is offered to people following a new stroke, who are well enough to leave hospital and have been identified as appropriate for further specialist stroke therapy at home.
Patients joining this service are within 30 days of their stroke and have GPs in the boroughs of Spelthorne, Elmbridge, Runnymede, Woking, Guildford and Waverley (excluding Farnham).
The ESD team provide rehabilitation and support to help people to regain independence in their own home.
Contact Details
- North West Surrey base (Ashford Hospital): 01784 884913
- South West Surrey base (Milford Hospital): 01932 726870
The Referral Process
Referrals can be made by Healthcare professionals within the inpatient team.
If you would like to discuss a referral please email either
What to Expect
- You will be referred to ESD by the therapists at your Stroke Unit or Rehab Unit
- Once you are home a member of our team will telephone you – this might be booked before you leave hospital, or we will call you directly. ESD aim to assess you either over the phone or in person within 24 hours of your discharge home
- After that, we will plan whether we can see you face to face or on video calls, or continue using telephone (or a combination of these methods)
- You will receive information about the team and our contact numbers either by email, post or a member of staff will bring it if they visit you at home
- The ESD team will help you set goals for your rehabilitation and develop treatment plans to work on these. Everyone is different and goals vary enormously
- Further appointments will be made directly with you. Members of the team will visit, or call by video or phone, to support with your rehabilitation and work towards your goals
- As you work towards your goals, your discharge date will be discussed and agreed with you. Most people have about 6 weeks rehabilitation with our team, but sometimes it is a shorter period if progress is rapid. It can also be longer if required, but is limited to a maximum of 12 weeks
You may be seen by several different staff from ESD:
Administrators
- May call you with appointments
- May call you to pass on messages from Therapists
Stroke Specialist Nurses
- Provide advice on reducing risk of another stroke
- Help with promoting a healthy lifestyle
- Support you and your family
Occupational Therapists
- Provide advice and treatment to help with daily activities
- This can include personal care, domestic tasks, work and leisure activities
Physiotherapists
- Provide treatment to help mobility, balance and strength
- Treatment may be home exercise programme, hands on techniques or advice
Speech and Language Therapists
- Provide advice and intervention for a range of communication or swallowing difficulties
Community Rehabilitation Assistants
- Provide therapy input with guidance and supervision from Clinical staff
Clinical Neuropsychologists
- Provide assessment, advice and interventions to understand and address emotional changes after a stroke (such as feeling low or worried)
- Help identify and manage cognitive/”thinking” difficulties (such as issues with memory and attention)
- Support patients, families and carers in adjusting to life after stroke and helping them participate in rehabilitation
Areas of rehabilitation may include:
- Mobility
- Communication
- Swallowing difficulties
- Cognitive problems
- Visual changes
- Personal care activities
- Preparing meals and drinks
- Emotional support
- Accessing the community e.g. going to the shops, using public transport, socialising and returning to hobbies
- Medication advice and education on preventing further strokes
- Support with returning to work and driving
- Carers and family support, teaching and education
Please note the team does not have carers within the team, therefore if you require a package of care, your hospital based therapy team will need to refer you to Social Services before you come home. If you have any further questions please ask a member of your hospital team.
Related Links
- The Stroke Association (The National Stroke Charity)
www.stroke.org.uk or 0303 3033 100 - TALK Surrey (Supporting those with communication difficulties)
www.talksurrey.org.uk or 07718 425953
Stroke Education Workbook
Here is the Stroke Education workbook we use in ESD to help patients understand their stroke a little better. It covers how the brain works and the effects of a stroke, considers how the stroke has affected each individual, and the purpose of rehabilitation.
