Community Neurological Rehabilitation Service (CNRS) aims to provide an excellent service user and carer experience. We work in partnership with our service users to deliver a patient-centred, high quality service. We aspire to deliver a helpful and friendly service and to treat everyone with dignity and respect.

We work with service users to maximise independence and quality of life through multi-disciplinary neurological rehabilitation. We offer a specialist service providing assessment, advice, therapy, treatment and offer information and support to service users, family, friends and carers.

We provide inpatient and day patient services at the Community Neurological Rehabilitation Centre (St Mary’s Hospital) and outpatient and community services at a variety of locations in Leeds, including service users’ homes.

This webpage provides a summary of what we do, but please contact us if you have any questions or would like more information. If we cannot help, we will do our best to direct you to someone who can.

There are three main parts to our service:

Community Neurological Rehabilitation Team

The aim of the team is to provide rehabilitation in a community setting for those with a neurological condition who have a Leeds GP. Service users are seen in the most appropriate location which may include home, leisure or community facililities, workplace, educational facilities and healthcare premises. The team provide rehabilitation in order to optimise function, participation, quality of life and independence. This includes support for young adults with neurodisability making the transition from paediatric to adult services.

Community Stroke Rehabilitation Team

The Community Stroke Rehabilitation Team provides time limited specialist early stage rehabilitation for people with a new diagnosis of stroke or subarachnoid haemorrhage being discharged from hospital into the community. Unlike the other parts of the service, referrals can only be accepted directly from the discharging hospital. The service aims to maximise rehabilitation potential and improve quality of life for people who have had a stroke and their carers.

Community Neurological Rehabilitation Centre (day service and inpatient service)

The regional inpatient service provides multidisciplinary rehabilitation through planned short stay admissions for people with complex needs due to a neurological condition who are medically stable.

We also offer a day service for service users with a neurological condition who do not require overnight admission, but who need more intensive multidisciplinary input than that available in the community setting.

Both services provide treatment and support to improve quality of life and to help achieve or maintain desired potential and independence.

The Community Neurological Discharge Team (NDT) is a small team of community Occupational Therapists and a Rehabilitation Assistant. We are part of the Community Neurological Rehabilitation Service based at St Mary’s Hospital.
If you have had had an acquired brain injury we are here to support your move back home. We can provide input to you if you have a Leeds GP and are over the age of 16 (and have left high school).

We will work closely with your hospital therapists to plan a safe and successful discharge, providing rehabilitation, advice and guidance in the early days as you adjust to being back home.

We aim to meet you on the ward before you go home and then we will visit you within 48 working hours of your discharge.
We will work with you and your close family/carers/relatives for up to 8 weeks once you are home, working towards goals that are meaningful to you. We will also provide education to you and your family/support network to help you come to terms with your newly acquired brain injury.

The service is available Monday to Friday between the hours of 8am and 4pm.

We have close links with other local services and will support you to access them if needed. At the end of our input we can also refer to other teams so that you can work towards your longer term goals.

Useful links

Welfare Rights Unit – Impartial advice on benefits claims and appeals. 0113 376 0452

Citizens Advice Bureau – 0113 223 440

Adult Social Care – For help and advice on issues like homecare support, careers assessments, respite, equipment and more. 0113 222 4401

Headway – The brain injury charity is set up to give help and support to people affected by brain injury. 0808 800 2244

Who do we see?

People who…

• Have had a stroke
• Are medically stable
• Are over 18 years old
• Have a Leeds GP
• Are referred from hospital
• Can be safely cared for at home
• Have rehabilitation goals that can be met in 12 weeks

How can we help?

• By working with you on specific goals
• Supporting the transfer of care from hospital to home
• Aiming to improve your quality of life
• Aiming to increase your independence
• Providing advice for you and your carer
• Working together with other services

What can we offer?

Stroke rehabilitation within your own home. The team is made up of professionals with specialist knowledge, experience and skills.

This includes:

• Physiotherapy
• Occupational Therapy
• Speech and Language Therapy
• Dietetics
• Nursing

We also have technical instructors and rehabilitation assistants who can support you to work towards your goals.

How long will we be involved?

• We can provide up to 12 weeks of input
• The team meet regularly to discuss your goals and how best to support you.
• Once your episode of care is complete, we will write to you, your GP and others involved in your ongoing care.
• If you require further support, we can refer or signpost you to other services that can help.

Appointments:

Please contact the team if you are unable to keep your appointment, giving at least 72 hours notice. If appointments are not kept, your episode of care will be ended.

Waiting list:

Following referral, you may be added to a waiting list. You can contact the team for an update about how long
you are likely to wait.

You have been invited to attend an appointment, group or session at St Mary’s Hospital with the Community Neurological Rehabilitation Service.

If you can attend sessions, groups or clinic appointments via your own transport, taxi, private car, bus or use the Access bus you will be expected to get to this appointment using one of these options.

If for any reason you are struggling to get to your appointments please contact and discuss this with us.

Here is some useful contact information to support you with getting to your appointment.

Getting to St Mary’s Hospital

The following may help you:

• Bus 16/16a Wheelchair Accessible -Seacroft to Pudsey. every 10 minutes Monday—Friday daytime. Stops directly outside the Hospital on Green Hill Road. www.wymetro.com
• Access bus if appropriate – Access Bus 0113 348 1903
• Leeds Alternative Travel will take you door to door for a small charge 0113 386 8880
• Contact Leeds Directory 0113 391 8333 for information about local travel schemes. www.leeds.gov.uk
• If you receive the high rate mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance/ PIP (PIP enhanced rate) or War Pensioner Mobility Supplement you must use this to pay for your transport costs to clinic.

Travel costs

If you are on a low income you may be able to claim for a refund of your travel costs under the Healthcare Travel Costs (HTC) scheme.

To find out if you are eligible and how to claim, visit the NHS Choices website www.nhs.uk or phone 0845 610 1112 to order a paper copy of the travel claim form and eligibility document (HC, HC11).

You can ring the Patient Experience Team in Leeds.

Please keep receipts and records of your journeys.

Change in circumstances:

If your situation changes and you are unable to attend your sessions, groups or clinic appointments please contact the Community Neurological Rehabilitation Service .

Parking

There is limited parking available on the St Mary’s Hospital site for patients, staff and visitors. Parking is free.

What is the Neuro User and Carer Forum?

The Neurology User and Carer Forum was formed in January 2009 and is one of the mechanisms that the service uses to engage with people affected by a neurological condition such as:

• Multiple Sclerosis
• Stroke
• Cerebral Palsy
• Parkinson’s
• Brain Injury

Our aim is to enable service users and carers to work with Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust to influence, improve and develop community neurology services to benefit service users and their families.

The forum’s input includes:

• Feedback on forms and letters
• Gather views and comments on future service changes
• Support with improving the hospital environment
• Support network for members

Who is in the group?

The group is made up of service users of Leeds Community Neurological Rehabilitation Services, their carers and is supported by service staff. Members can attend the meetings and/or be a virtual member where your feedback will be read out at the meetings. So, if you are unable to attend you can still keep in touch with the group by receiving notes from the meetings and letting staff know your comments.

What does the group do?

The group meets regularly for two hours in the early afternoon at the Community Neurological Rehabilitation Centre in Armley, Leeds.

As a member of the group you will:

• Work with your local NHS
• Help develop and improve services
• Contribute as much or as little as suits you
• Meet new people with an interest in neurology services
• Learn about the Community Neurological Rehabilitation Service in Leeds

Are you interested?

If you would like more information or are interested in joining our group, please email us at communityneurologicalrehabilitation@nhs.net or call the Administration Team on 0113 855 5082, Monday to Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm.

Why is fluid intake so important?

Most of the human body is made up of water. It is lost all the time from the body.

Therefore it is important to maintain an adequate fluid intake or you may become ill through dehydration.

Dehydration causes many symptoms, including:

• Thirst
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Fatigue

It can also cause continence problems, such as:

• Constipation
• Increased risk of urine infections
• Irritation of the bladder
• Increased risk of catheter blockage

How much should we drink?

The general recommended amount to maintain health is 1½ litres daily or 2½ pints.

This amount may have to be varied depending on certain circumstances:

• If you have a temperature
• If you are eating a fibre rich diet
• Certain medications require more fluids to work efficiently
• In hot weather due to sweating
• Depending on size / body weight

Types of fluids

Any type of fluid can be counted including coffee, tea, water and fruit juices.

Certain foods can also be helpful to increase fluid intake, such as soup, jellies and custards.

Too many fizzy drinks, coffee, tea and alcohol should be avoided as these can irritate the bladder and may cause symptoms of frequency and urgency.

Caffeine

Caffeine is present in many types of fluids, including:

• Tea
• Coffee
• Cola
• Some herbal teas

Drinks that don’t irritate the bladder

• Water
• Milk
• Decaffeinated tea
• Decaffeinated coffee
• Herbal teas
• Milk shakes
• Diluted fruit squash
• Cranberry juice

Drinks that can irritate the bladder

• Tea (caffeinated)
• Coffee (caffeinated)
• Hot chocolate
• Green tea
• Blackcurrant juice
• Fresh citrus fruit juices
• Cola
• Fizzy drinks
• Alcohol
• Tomato juice

Reported benefits of healthy fluid intake

• Increased alertness
• Increased energy
• Fewer falls
• Less dizziness
• Reduction in laxative use
• Reduction in urinary infections
• Easing of bladder symptoms
• Fewer interrupted nights
• Better quality sleep

Some ideas to increase fluid intake

• Take regular small amounts of fluids rather than one big volume
• Drink fluids you enjoy
• Use visual prompts and reminders if you have a poor memory
• Drink a whole glass of water when taking medication
• Use diet to increase the fluid intake, with milky puddings, jellies and soups
• Fresh fruit can also increase fluid intake