On arrival to St Francis Ward you will be met by the nursing staff, who will introduce you to the ward and the main areas in the NSIC. Individual members of the team will complete initial assessments during the first week of admission. There will be the opportunity to discuss the assessments and the programme or timetable intensity with you. …

On your first admission to St Francis Ward, we will introduce ourselves and arrange to meet with you and your family members.   We aim to help young people and their families to cope with some of the difficulties that can come from having a spinal cord injury, or its treatment. The Clinical Psychology Department also runs a Child Relative’s …

An orthopaedic consultant works with the medical and physiotherapy team to monitor and advise you in your ongoing skeletal growth.  Spinal cord injury can affect how your bones grow after injury.   Our aim is to enable your body to grow as it would have done prior to injury.  You may be sent to have x-rays of your spine and …

From April 2018 to March 2019, St Francis ward had 204 admission episodes: 30 of these were new admissions, ie a child with a new SCI; or a child with an existing SCI referred for further specialist assessment and/or rehab The remaining 174 were elective readmissions either for MDT review, further rehabilitation or surgery CARF Accreditation * In Spring 2018 …

The Team members serving each person admitted is determined by an initial admission assessment by the team. An individualized child or adult needs assessment checklist (ChNAC or NAC) will be completed. Your rehabilitation programme for the week ahead is then planned in advance by your treating team based on your needs and rehab goals. The inpatient paediatric programme is provided …

General and therapeutic play is an important feature of the rehabilitation programme. The play specialist works with the interdisciplinary team to meet their developmental needs by: Providing a varied play / leisure programme, that is age and developmentally appropriate Enabling the children and young people to express any fears and anxieties in a safe, non threatening environment Observation and assessment …

Knowledge of what has happened to your child helps you and your family learn about what to expect for the future. The children/adolescents are taught about how to keep well following injury, and to learn about becoming independent either physically or verbally. Aspire alternative education provision The Aspire charity operates the Hospital Teaching Service at Stoke Mandeville Hospital.This only operates …

The role of the Case Manager is to support parents in dealing with the practical impact of their child’s injury both in the often lengthy hospital admission and in preparation for going home. The Case Manager, along with the named nurse, acts as a link between you, services and agencies.  Planning, preparing, liaising and co-coordinating for your child/adolescent effective return …

Nutrition is a necessity for growth and development.   The need for a nutritious, well balanced diet is especially important after injury or illness.   Injury or illness can affect eating behaviours and nutritional needs. Children may also be more prone to weight gain as a result of being less active. A young person’s dietary needs can vary greatly throughout …

Occupational Therapy involves assessing a person’s ability to carry out the usual everyday demands of life in the areas of self care, work and leisure: The aim is, where possible, to regain the physical and social skills necessary to perform activities as they were previously performed.  Where this is not possible, the aim is to help you acquire alternative methods …