Lanark stroke survivor rebuilds strength through pioneering rehab scheme

 Zero understanding what this rehab is. Ask your competent? doctor.

Lanark stroke survivor rebuilds strength through pioneering rehab scheme

A stroke survivor is rebuilding her strength and confidence through a pioneering rehabilitation programme.

Fiona Wilkie, from Lanark, is taking part in an eight-week scheme at Blantyre LIFE, a facility delivering technology-enriched rehabilitation developed through a partnership between the University of Strathclyde, NHS Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire Council, and the South Lanarkshire University Health and Social Care Partnership.

Speaking about the programme, Fiona said: "When I first came here, I could only walk tentatively with my stick.

"I can now walk without it, I'm much stronger and my confidence is really good.

"It has given me a safe place to practise with support from the team.

"It has been amazing and I don't think I would have reached this stage without it."

The programme focuses on delivering technology-enriched rehabilitation in a community setting, using technology to aid stroke recovery.

Scott Haldane, non-executive director at NHS Lanarkshire and member of the South Lanarkshire Integration Joint Board, said: "It has been fantastic to see this technology in action and hear directly from the staff and patients involved about the possibilities it presents for people recovering from stroke.

"By bringing together expertise from the NHS, local government and academia, this programme is helping us understand how technology can support recovery and independence after a stroke and what that could mean for community-based rehabilitation in the future."

Professor Soumen Sengupta, chief officer for health and social care for South Lanarkshire, said the programme shows the value of supporting people in familiar surroundings.

He said: "Listening to Fiona and others on the programme has reinforced the difference it can make when people are supported to recover in familiar, local settings.

"This is the kind of care we want to keep developing for the future: leading-edge support brought closer to people, helping them rebuild confidence, regain independence and get back to everyday life in their own communities."

The initiative builds on earlier work by the University of Strathclyde and NHS Lanarkshire.

It aims to strengthen the evidence for technology-enabled rehabilitation in the community.

Dr Andy Kerr, principal investigator for the TERG research at the University of Strathclyde, said: "The learning generated through this partnership will contribute to the evidence base and help inform future rehabilitation services across Scotland.

"We are grateful to our local partners and their teams for their commitment to innovation and dedication to learning."