Head Injuries Therapies
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The Head Injury therapy team at St George’s Hospital is based within the Atkinson Morley Regional Neurosciences Centre. The therapy team specialises in the assessment and rehabilitation of patients who have experienced a traumatic brain injury and present with cognitive, behavioural, communication, physical or swallowing difficulties as a result of the injury.
Neuro-therapies, 2nd Floor, Atkinson Morley Wing, St George’s Hospital
Contact details
Main telephone number: 020 8725 4619
Mobile number 07827307278 (Claire Salisbury Neuro-trauma Co-ordinator)
Bleep 8148 (Jean Hardy Neuro-trauma Co-ordinator)
Opening hours
08:30 – 16:45 Monday to Friday
08:30 – 16:30 Saturday to Sunday
Treatments
The multi-disciplinary team provide in-patient therapy input across eight dedicated Head Injury beds located on Kent Ward.
The symptoms of traumatic brain injury can vary greatly between patients and your assessment and treatment will depend on the nature of these symptoms.
Physical Symptoms
- Weakness
- Changes in sensation
- Difficulty with co-ordination
- Increased muscle activity
- Visual field deficits
Cognitive symptoms
- Reduced memory – including post traumatic amnesia
- Poor concentration/attention
- Visuo-perceptual problems
- Apraxia – difficulties understanding what objects are and how to use them
- Difficulties multi-tasking
- Poor problem solving
- Poor insight into the difficulties the patient is having
Behavioural Symptoms
- Restlessness
- Agitation
- Aggression
Emotional symptoms
- Low mood
- Frequent changes in mood
- Difficulties processing emotion
Communication symptoms
- Difficulty swallowing food and/or drink
- Word finding difficulties
- Difficulty understanding what people say
- Slurred speech
- Changes in social communication skills
Swallowing symptoms
Physical Symptoms
- Weakness
- Changes in sensation
- Difficulty with co-ordination
- Increased muscle activity
- Visual field deficits
Cognitive symptoms
- Reduced memory – including post traumatic amnesia
- Poor concentration/attention
- Visuo-perceptual problems
- Apraxia – difficulties understanding what objects are and how to use them
- Difficulties multi-tasking
- Poor problem solving
- Poor insight into the difficulties the patient is having
Behavioural Symptoms
- Restlessness
- Agitation
- Aggression
Emotional symptoms
- Low mood
- Frequent changes in mood
- Difficulties processing emotion
Communication symptoms
- Word finding difficulties
- Difficulty understanding what people say
- Slurred speech
- Changes in social communication skills
Swallow Symptoms
- Difficulty swallowing food and/or drink
Other
- Altered sleep/wake cycle
If you experience any of these symptoms the therapy team will work with you and your family to identify areas you would like to improve and establish a tailored rehabilitation programme.
Key staff
The team consists of Principal Therapists, Specialist Neuro-trauma Co-ordinators, Specialist Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Speech and Language Therapists, Rotational Therapists and Therapy Technicians.
The multi disciplinary team will endeavour to organise a family meeting for all head injury patients on Kent ward. The time frame for this may vary slightly depending on the patients needs. This is an opportunity to discuss the patient’s progress and ongoing plans such as where the patient may go to next.
Links
Headway: The Brain Injury Association https://www.headway.org.uk/home.aspx
NICE Quality Standards for Head Injury http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/QS74
