Two of our specialist neurological physiotherapists were invited by the Spinal Injuries Association (SIA) to a reception at Westminster last week for the launch of the Frank Williams Academy.
The Academy launch was attended by SIA patron HRH Princess Royal, as well as Claire Williams, Vice President and daughter of the late Sir Frank Williams, founder of Williams Racing who lived with a spinal cord injury. The aim of the Academy is to provide education for individuals who have sustained an injury, through to healthcare professionals to ensure appropriate care is provided, and also to carry out user-led research to build evidence to influence change on how Spinal Cord Injuries are looked upon and treated at a strategic level, nationally.
Our reputation for clinical excellence aligns with these principles and with an interdisciplinary team including specialist physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and psychologists. Intensive rehab packages are available for inpatients and outpatients and we are proud to deliver a meaningful service to people affected by SCI. Our hands-on therapy combined with the latest developments in neurotechnology along with a robust programme of clinical education for the largest independent therapy team in the UK provides a one-stop solution for case managers and the medico-legal sector.
Sarah Holloway comments: “It was a privilege to be invited to the launch of the Frank Williams Academy. To be surrounded by individuals that are committed to transforming the way the world views Spinal Cord Injuries was amazing, you could clearly see and feel the passion and dedication of all involved. We look forward to working with and supporting the Academy through the delivery of our specialist spinal cord injury service.”
The showcase afternoon event at Bristol was a huge success; attendees were given an overview of our Spinal Cord Injury and Intensive Rehabilitation Services, then were invited to meet the creators and see the ABLE Exoskeleton in action with a live patient demo with plenty of interaction and Q&A. Next, they enjoyed a guided tour of our Intensive Neurotherapy Centre where they were able to meet some of our interdisciplinary team and see the Tyrosoultion suite of neurotechnology and other upper and lower limb rehabilitation devices.
The ABLE Exoskeleton is an innovative robotic exoskeleton that actively assists individuals with mobility impairments to stand up, walk, and sit down. The exoskeleton is intended to enable individuals with spinal cord injury at levels from C5 to L5* to perform ambulatory functions in rehabilitation institutions under the supervision of a trained therapist.
Hobbs Rehabilitation and The MiNT Academy have collaborated closely with ABLE Human Motion, ABLE told us “We were delighted to work with Hobbs, whose continuous feedback and ideas have been a major influence on the design of the ABLE exoskeleton. During our visit, we explored adapting the device for different pathologies, such as multiple sclerosis. We are excited about future co-creation opportunities and cannot wait to share them with you.”
Hobbs Rehabilitation’s specialist speech and language team provides clinical education for care staff and has recently developed an online course, with certification, on Dysphagia. The certificate shows completion of Level 3 Dysphagia Training in line with the Eating, Drinking and Swallowing Competency Framework (EDSCF).
Alice Wilks, Specialist Speech and Language Therapist at Hobbs Rehabilitation, comments: ‘The Speech and Language Therapy team is commissioned by the NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board to provide communication and swallow input to patients in the New Forest. The team are passionate about raising awareness for dysphagia (swallowing difficulties) and empowering staff in care homes to support their residents. The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists have recently updated their Feeding Safely Guidelines, which the team incorporates into the training. The training is free to access and once completed, will provide learners with their Level 3 dysphagia practitioner training’.
Clinical education is a passion for our co-founder, Helen Hobbs, and this is an ethos echoed throughout all disciplines, with a strong student placement programme, university teaching frequently undertaken and regular post-graduation education courses provided. We deliver a range of online and in-person education and consider this an integral part of Hobbs Rehabilitation.
The National Clinical Guideline for Stroke provides recommendations based on current research into the experience of healthcare professionals and people affected by stroke, to define best practices for treating people who have had a stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA or “mini-stroke”).
The Intercollegiate Stroke Working Party has produced six editions of the National Clinical Guideline for Stroke since 2000. The most recent update was published at the beginning of April 2023; the recommendations have changed quite significantly to support Intensive Rehabilitation and have increased from 45 minutes a day to now 3+ hours a day. We know this is currently being under achieved in the NHS but it is something we can offer as standard in our Intensive Rehabilitation packages.
Charlotte Barnes, Specialist Neurological Physiotherapist at Hobbs Rehabilitation Intensive Neurotherapy Centre in Bristol shares her thoughts: “It’s great to see an increase in the intensive rehabilitation recommendations in the National Clinical Guideline for Stroke in line with the current evidence, however, we know the previous recommendations of 45 minutes a day per patient was not being met and without significant change to processes and procedures, the NHS is going to be unable to meet the new recommendations of 3 hours a day of interdisciplinary rehab per patient. At Hobbs Rehabilitation, we have a range of intensive rehabilitation packages available that we tailor to each patient’s individual requirements and goals, offering input from a variety of specialist neurological therapists, that can be started at any time in the stroke recovery and not just the acute stage.”
Rachel O’Neill, Clinical Lead at Hobbs Rehabilitation adds “Interdisciplinary input including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and neuropsychology can respond to the needs of a patient whether it be step down post hospital discharge, or step up from NHS community services to enable them to fulfil their full potential. We tailor our packages to cater for residential stays (with or without nursing and care provision) or provide at-home or community-based services and exercise groups to engage our patients and their families with their rehab journey and help them lead meaningful lives again. The depth and breadth of our team across the south of England enables a robust and agile response to the needs of this patient group and our participation in many research projects and innovative initiatives such as the Help Hampshire programme further adds to our offering, and we are proud to be at the forefront of stroke rehab in the UK.”
Kirsti Pretty
PR & Marketing Lead
