What is the positive change that has emerged through new collaborations or partnerships during Covid-19 that your project is going to embed?

During the first wave of COVID Pandemic we noted the detrimental effect of isolation and felt that patients benefitted from some form of new activities. Television was not always the best option as we desire patients to stimulate their mind after a brain injury. The therapy team set up arts sessions and other activities between therapy sessions but this was only possible during working hours. Some simple activity packs were produced on a very small scale which were positively received for use during the out-of-hours time. This was done in conjunction with a private unit in Berkshire.

What does your project aim to achieve?

The need for brain stimulation has been shown to be essential for furthering rehabilitation post injury. We hope to provide patients with more than just books and television for the periods of time they spend in hospital. Most of our patients spend between 6 and 12 weeks (if not more) undergoing rehabilitation. The new surprise packs would provide something new for them to focus on and alleviate boredom and low mood.

How will the project be delivered?

Our therapists have already provided these packs on a small scale and only provide items which have been shown to have a scientific benefit in rehabilitation. Due to finance this has been kept to a small scale but further funding would allow us to provide a greater volume of packs to be provided to patients in both the Neurorehabilitation Units we have within Berkshire but also provide a blueprint for what could potentially be provided elsewhere. This could also be provided to the cognitively effected patients within out Acute Stroke Unit. This would be delivered by the Team Leader along with the Therapy Team and reviewed on a weekly basis.

How is your project going to share learning?

A catalogue of the activity packs will be collated and feedback acquired from patients (and/or family) who have received the packs. The whole COVID-19 scenario has thrown normality around family visiting and home leave out of the window. We will need to evaluate mood and feedback around benefit achieved through activity pack provision to the wider community. There may be a benefit in using this data in cases where patients have to spend long period of time in hospital away from family; even without a pandemic in the background.