WEDNESDAY, 29 NOVEMBER, 2023

Photograph attached: Staff marking the 10-year anniversary of the multidisciplinary stroke clinic in Perth Royal Infirmary

Celebrating 10 years of the multidisciplinary stroke clinic at Perth Royal Infirmary

A specialist clinic which helps patients reduce the physical impact of a stroke has marked its 10-year anniversary year in Perth Royal Infirmary.

The multidisciplinary orthotist and physiotherapy assessment clinic was set up in 2013 to provide evidence-based treatment for patients who have had a stroke.

The weekly orthotic assessment clinic has been based in the physiotherapy gym of the hospital’s stroke rehabilitation unit for the last decade and has helped hundreds of stroke patients regain some of their mobility and/or improve their quality of life.

Orthotists are registered health care professionals who assess and treat patients who have a variety of biomechanical conditions that could be improved by wearing modified footwear or an orthosis, which is a specially designed brace or splint.

After having a stroke, many patients benefit from wearing specially designed orthoses on their legs or arms to control the alignment of their joints, which can reduce pain and the risk of muscle contractures. Many stroke patients develop mobility issues and a custom-made orthosis can also help to improve their walking ability by influencing the alignment of the hip, knee and ankle joints.

Each week, the physiotherapy team identifies and refers any patients who might benefit from being assessed in the clinic at Perth Royal Infirmary (PRI). Custom-made orthoses are designed by an orthotist and manufactured on site in PRI Orthotic department. These orthoses are individual and specific to each patient’s clinical needs.

Barclay Kilday, who attended the clinic for treatment, said the team has made a real difference to his recovery. He said, “I attended the orthotic clinic on a weekly basis to have my splint made. The physiotherapists and Steve who made the splint worked with me to understand how my walking technique could be improved and what adjustments were needed to be made to my splint to help with this.

“Holding the session as a clinic meant there were other patients in the same situation as myself there too, which I found positive as we were able to openly encourage each other during the session, as well as when we were on the ward. All the staff involved were helpful and encouraging throughout.”

Staff held a small celebration in the stroke rehabilitation unit earlier this year to mark the clinic’s 10-year milestone.

Wilhelmina Crawford, team lead physiotherapist for the stroke rehabilitation unit, said, “We are delighted to have marked this 10-year milestone. The multidisciplinary team is committed to providing the best possible care to patients. The clinic has gone from strength-to-strength over the past decade and has helped many patients across Tayside.”

Morag Ottley, Perth and Kinross Health and Social Care Partnership Interim Service Manager for Medicine for the Elderly and Intermediate Care, said, “It is fantastic to celebrate 10 years of this collaborative service where physiotherapy and orthotic staff use different skills to work together and put the stroke patient at the centre of their care.

“This clinic starts when the patient is in hospital and then community rehabilitation teams and specialist outpatient services, such as orthotics, continue to work with the patient to regularly review the patient’s progress. This is a great example of teams working together with the patient throughout their rehabilitation journey.”

Contact:

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 424138