Nick's Story

Nicholas Staveley Stanley MBE (Nick) was admitted to UHCW in March 2014 with diarrhoea and vomiting and abdominal pain as well as urinary frequency and urgency for 5 days and a cough for a few months. His symptoms worsened once admitted and he was diagnosed with an atypical pneumonia. He was admitted to ITU for supportive therapy and had a CT scan at this time which showed evidence of past and recent strokes. Following discharge he was reviewed at UHCW Out Patient clinic on the June 2014 and at this appointment Nick identified multiple neurological impairments impacting on his day to day and life and function in the community. He was referred to the Community Neuro Rehabilitation Team (CnRT).

Nick had previous traumatic experience in the NHS and therefore trusting health professionals was difficult for him, but crucial in CnRT’s engagement with him. The focus was on education and information for Nick given his discharge from hospital without immediate follow up by a therapy team.

Putting Nick at the centre of his therapy is key to how the CnRT work and this process really allowed Nick to feel respected and able to communicate with staff. Setting patient-centred and goals is essential and supported within the team and this allowed Nick to be involved and be clear and informed about where they were heading together and what to expect.

Nick felt that the Community Neuro Rehabilitation Team from Newfield House (CNRT) was excellent and he struggled to identify how it could be improved. He reported being provided with education, counselling, information, support, direct therapy intervention in the community and goal setting. Nick notes on multiple occasions the kind and caring staff that he has worked with from this team.