Shoulder and Elbow Unit Rehabilitation Programme

If you would like to, please write down some ideas below before your first therapy appointment. Things you might like to consider are: What would you like to understand better? What do you think will help your condition to improve? What do you find difficult during your day that you might like to work on.

Typically you will receive a session of Physiotherapy (PT) and Occupational therapy (OT) daily, for up to an hour depending on your needs. This week may include group education sessions and classes. 

Example timetable (NB this is only an example timetable. Specific times will be confirmed when you arrive for your programme): 

During the free time in your diary you can:

• Complete your exercise programme and practice new strategies or techniques e.g. relaxation. 
• Visit the
  • Gym and swimming pool (if your therapists deem this to be appropriate to your rehab) 
  • Coffee shop
  • Lake on site
  • Stanmore Country Park
• Recommendations may also be made for you to attend group sessions, such as relaxation, sports or swimming. 
• Stanmore and Edgware are well served by numerous restaurants and coffee shops which you are welcome to explore, so long as you inform the ward staff and are back in time for all appointments.

You are free to leave after your last therapy session on Friday; typically this will be mid-morning. You will have to leave the ward by 4pm. If this is not possible, you will be transferred to an available waiting area. 

During your stay you may be seen by some of the following members of the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT):

Occupational therapist

• Explore adaptations and strategies to manage daily life
• Returning to life roles
• Pain management strategies
• Relaxation and mindfulness 
• unctional rehabilitation
• Pacing 
• Advice on sleep

Physiotherapist

• Exercise as appropriate to your shoulder
• Gym-based exercise 
• Pain management
• Functional rehabilitation

Surgical team 

• Consultants
• Registrars
• House Officer
• Clinical Nurse Specialist

Nursing staff 

If it is felt to be appropriate, you may also be seen by:

Psychologist

• Can help with strategies to help manage pain
• Discuss other factors that may contribute to your symptoms

Orthotist 

• Can prescribe and fit braces and splints if required.  

The beds are fully adjustable using the controller at the side. You may want to talk to a nurse or therapist to help find a sleeping position that suits you best. Additional blankets can be provided on request.

You will be sleeping in a ward with other patients who are also attending rehabilitation programmes. Generally people do not report being disturbed by others on the ward at night, but it may be helpful 
to bring earplugs if you struggle to sleep.

There is a patient lounge/TV room on the ward. Some people prefer to keep more to themselves during their stay and that is okay too, everyone is different.

Useful times

Lights out 10.30pm
Doors are locked at 10.30pm

Meals

Dietary needs can be met, and portions are available in quantities to suit your personal requirements. Monday lunch is a sandwich, but every meal after that can be chosen from a varied menu. Please make 
sure that you fill in your menu sheet as soon as possible. This can be found at the head of your bed and should have your name on it.

Although there is a reasonable variety of food on offer, some patients choose to buy food from the onsite restaurant Broccles which is located close to the Rehab Unit or from Basil’s cafe which is located in the APSIRE leisure centre.

Tea, coffee and biscuits are always available for patients on the ward (and visitors for a small donation).

Phone and electronic devices

You may use your mobile phone and other electronic devices, but they should all be used with headphones so as not to disturb or cause inconvenience to other patients. Please ensure your telephone is switched off during group or individual therapy sessions.

Chapel

There is a chapel on site if you wish to attend.

Visiting hours

Visiting time is between 5 and 9pm. If you plan to go off site please inform a member of staff and ensure that you are back on the ward no later than 10pm.

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted anywhere within the hospital site. Use of recreational drugs including cannabis within the hospital grounds is not permitted.

Sharing of regular medications between patients is not permitted. 

Things you may wish to bring

• Book
• Personal music player
• Headphones
• iPad/laptop 
• Swimming costume / trunks
• Gym clothes 
• Trainers
• Vest tops are ideal for shoulder assessments
• Warm clothes if it is winter 
• Clothing and toiletries

Decisions about your follow-up therapy sessions will be made with your therapists at the end of your stay. Often you will be seen for follow-up with both your occupational therapist and physiotherapist but this is not always the case.

Depending on the individual case, you may or may not have a follow up appointment with your referring consultant.  

Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust 
Brockley Hill, Stanmore, Middlesex HA7 4LP 

Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust 
45-51 Bolsover Street, London W1W 5AQ

Switchboard: 020 3947 0100
Therapy department: 020 8909 5820
Rehabilitation ward: 020 8909 5341
Rehabilitation admissions: 020 8909 5783 

Website

Twitter @RNOHnhs 

'I think it’s important that as patients, we have a responsibility of letting you guys know when we are in pain.'

'It was really beneficial but also fun. I think that’s a really important factor. If it wasn’t fun I don’t think people would be quite so eager to do well, whereas because I really actually enjoyed my physio and OT sessions I was quite eager to go back the next day.'

'I saw my therapist and she took me into the kitchen and showed me different techniques and how I should be lifting the kettle. I still use it now when I’m at home, you know instead of holding like this and holding it close to my body, yeah my OT was wicked, it was really helpful.'

'They got me to put my shoulder back in by myself while I was here... and that for me was something I never even thought possible yet I have achieved it, and now I can put my shoulder back in so I don’t have to go  to A&E all the time.'

'After the first week I couldn’t wait to get back on Monday. I’ve met really good friends who I’ve stayed in touch with and got people coming down to visit and I’m going to go and stay with them in Wales.'

Bring some food! And a blanket!

You are here for you, so don’t feel like you’ve got to sit back and just let this happen. You need to take control of it … like really voice if something doesn’t 
feel right or if you are in pain, if you have got any problems just shout.

Persevere...The members of staff that I interacted with anyway were really good at listening to you so just persevere because everyone is so individual so you 
just need to really communicate your needs to them.

Trying to motivate yourself is really difficult but once you get into it, it’s fine and just stick at it because honestly if you let it slip you will just find yourself back here again, that is exactly what happened to me. Just stay positive and stay motivated and stick at it with exercises. I think it is just really important to just stick at it. Just really bring it home with you

Just give this your best shot, because if you actually put in the time and effort and really work hard, then it will change it.

 

We request that you read through the following information, and that you keep this in mind throughout your participation on the programme.

• Have respect for the privacy and rights of each other and yourself, recognising that each person is an individual. Please be aware that  attitudes and behaviours can influence and determine not only your experience of the programme, but the experience of other patients too.
• Have respect for the staff that you are working with.
• Disruptive, anti-social or inappropriate behaviour will not be acceptable, and may result in a patient being asked to leave the  programme at the discretion of the multi-professional team.
• It is expected that you attend and participate in all sessions on your timetable. We do understand that it may take longer to travel  between locations i.e. Rehab ward and ASPIRE pool resulting in being a couple of minutes late.
• Please ensure that your mobile phones are switched off during all therapy sessions
• If due to unforeseen circumstances you are unable to attend a  session, you must inform the appropriate person e.g. Physiotherapy/OT etc (Telephone numbers are available in your pack)
• Please be considerate of the facilities that you are in for each session. For example, there may be other people with injuries/ disabilities (which may not be visible) in the Physio/OT Dept or  ASPIRE sports hall or pool
• Whilst on the programme, no alcohol may be brought onto the premises. In accordance with Trust and NHS policy, you must not smoke anywhere on NHS property. 
• Please remember that the doors to the rehabilitation ward are closed for security reasons at 10.30pm, and therefore you must return to the ward before then. If you are delayed, you must inform the staff  (Tel: 020 8909 5341)
• Men and women are not allowed to enter each other’s sides of the ward except to pass through for meetings.
• Please ensure you are appropriately dressed in public areas.