Welcome to Russells Hall Hospital – Therapy Team

Patient Information Leaflet

This information has been prepared to give you and your family information about the service we provide. We aim to provide a friendly and caring environment where our professional staff provide assessment and treatment tailored to meet the individual needs of you and your family, recognising that when you are well enough medically to leave the hospital, we will aim to get you home with the support you need to continue your recovery.

Who’s who within Therapy Services team?

Physiotherapists

Navy trousers and either a white or navy blue top

Occupational Therapists

Green trousers and a white top

Assistant Therapy Practitioners or Therapy Assistants

Black trousers and a lilac top

Other Staff on the ward include:

Doctors, nurses, health care assistants, house keepers, ward clerks, and volunteers. All our staff wear identification badges but if you are unsure who someone is or what they do, please ask them to introduce themselves. Do not hesitate to ask any of them if you have any queries or require assistance.

What you should expect from us.

• You will be greeted in a welcoming, courteous and helpful manner
• The staff treating, assessing or discussing your discharge with you will introduce themselves and their role
• Staff will ask you how you would like to be addressed
• You will be kept up to date with information regarding your progress
• At the earliest opportunity and as appropriate to your treatment plan, we will discuss discharge from hospital, always aiming to get you home if safe to do so
• You will be always treated with respect, in an environment committed to your privacy and dignity
• Any concerns will be dealt with in a prompt and professional manner

What we would like to expect from you.

• We ask you to be polite, courteous and non-threatening to our staff and the other patients
• We ask you to actively participate in your treatment and to work with us to support your discharge from hospital
• To facilitate your discharge, we ask you identify on admission any reasons why you may not be able to return to your home address
• If you have any concerns, we value your constructive and honest feedback. Please ask to speak to a member of staff or complete the feedback form either by accessing the QR code on the back of this leaflet or completing the tear off strip

The role of our Therapy Team:

• If either your physical or cognitive level of functioning has changed because of your illness, injury or reason for admission to hospital, you should expect to be seen by a therapist to ensure your safety when you are discharged.
• If you require therapy treatment whilst you are in hospital you should expect to be assessed and/or treated by a therapist as a minimum every 3 days whenever possible. Once you have received your initial assessment, a board above your bed will indicate to nursing staff how much assistance you require, and they will continue to encourage you to do as much as you are able.
• The hospital is not a long term, respite or rehabilitation environment and our beds are needed for patients that require medical intervention. At the earliest opportunity and often before you are medically ready to leave the hospital, one of the therapy staff, will discuss discharge options with you and your family with your consent.
• You need to be aware that in line with National NHS and Government guidelines there are only 4 discharge options from any acute NHS Trust.
• Further details of eligibility criteria can be found on the Gov.uk website.

The discharge options available or pathways as they are sometimes referred to are:

Discharge Options.

Pathway 0: you will be discharged home to your home address without formal care in place.

Pathway 1: if after an assessment you require support with activities of daily living, you will be discharged home to your home address with a formal care package that has been prescribed to meet your needs, this will include further assessment in your own home and if required will include continued therapy at home by our community teams.

Pathway 2: following an assessment by a member of our therapy team if they feel you have significant rehabilitation needs, you are actively engaging in your rehabilitation and would not be safe to return home with community therapy, you will be considered for further rehabilitation in one of our Intermediate Care Facilities. These funded placements have strict eligibility criteria and these, and the assessment process, will be discussed with you further if appropriate.

Pathway 3: following an assessment by therapy or a member of our multi-disciplinary team it may be appropriate to discuss moving into a long-term care home. You would only be eligible for this option if all alternative options have been explored, and you have been in receipt of a care package consisting of 4 care calls a day or the equivalent prior to coming into hospital. If you are eligible for a discharge to a care home and are not safe to return home this will be discussed with you and your family, you will be given support to find a home that can meet your needs, however you must be aware you may not get a choice. Any move to a care home will then be followed with a social care and financial assessment in that facility to assess your long-term needs.

If you do not meet the eligibility criteria for the pathway of your choice you will need to fund your care privately.

Equipment

You may be issued with equipment to support you to remain as independent as possible when you return home. This may have been given to you in the hospital or been ordered and delivered by the Community Equipment Stores.

Once you have been discharged it is your or/and your relatives/carers responsibility to ensure you regularly check the equipment for any signs of wear and tear. Please ring the community equipment stores on:

Dudley 01384 813 468
Sandwell 0121 569 3670
South Staffs 0300 111 8010

If there are any subsequent changes in your health and well-being following prescription of this equipment and you feel you need a reassessment, please contact your GP who can refer you to the most appropriate service to meet your needs.

If you have any questions, or if there is anything you do not understand, please contact the Russells Hall Hospital switchboard number on 01384 456111 and ask for the relevant department who issued this leaflet.

If you have any feedback on this patient information leaflet please email dgft.patient.information@nhs.net

This leaflet can be made available in large print, audio version and in other languages, please call 0800 073 0510.

Originator: Megan Harper Date originated: November 2024. Review date: August 2027 Version: 1 DGH ref.: DGH/PIL/02221