Neurological Patients undertake Charity Triathlon
16 February 2010
Patients at Glenside have chosen to take part in a charity triathlon to help raise funds for three charities.
Each of the 26 participants is living with severe physical, cognitive or behavioural impairments resulting from a long-term neurological condition, such as a stroke or acquired/traumatic brain injury. Due to the differing physical abilities of each individual, there is not a set distance for each discipline and the triathlon will take place over three days during February and March.
Photo: Some of the participants in the Triathlon joined by Glenside’s Physiotherapy
Team (back row) and Ciaran McCabe from Moore Blatch (2nd from right, back row)
The cycling will be completed in half-hour blocks on either an exercise bike or a specialist MotorMed bike that allows patients to pedal whilst seated in a wheelchair. Swimming will be undertaken in the impressive hydrotherapy pool and the final stage, a walk, will take place around a pre-marked short course in the grounds of Glenside’s picturesque eight acre campus.
The event is being organised by Glenside’s Physiotherapy Team who will be on-hand through the event to support patients with their physical needs in completing each stage as well as providing the odd bit of encouragement!
To mark the start of the triathlon, further support was provided by solicitors from leading personal injury law firm Moore Blatch, who kindly provided t-shirts for all patients completing the triathlon.
Glenside’s Lead Physiotherapist Gerry Harlow said: “Charity events are a regular occurrence here at Glenside.”
“Not only is the triathlon an excellent way to give patients a goal to work towards as part of their rehabilitation programme, this event will also raise funds for charities that help those with neurological conditions”.
The three charities being supported are: Headway – The Brain Injury Association, The Stroke Association and CLIC Sargent (Children’s Cancer).
If you wish to make a donation to any of the charities, please contact the Physiotherapy department at physiotherapy@glensidemanor.co.uk or telephone them directly on 01722 746853.
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Mum's joy as Southampton Attack Victim wakes from Coma
4 February 2010
A man left for dead in a sickening attack in a Hampshire park has woken from a coma and is defying doctors by communicating with his mum.
Scott Speirs lay unconscious for more than a year following a vicious attack by Adam Stebbing and Liam Edwards in which the pair stamped on his head more than a dozen times. Eighteen months ago doctors predicted the father of one would never be able to interact with other people. But Scott, who is still confined to a wheelchair, cannot talk and requires 24-hour care, has impressed medics with his progress.
It has been a huge boost for Scott’s family, including his ten-year-old son Charlie. Mum Sue described him as “a million times” better than he was following the brutal attack in 2007, which left him severely brain-damaged.
Speaking to the Daily Echo at Glenside Manor, a specialist neurological rehabilitation centre on the outskirts of Salisbury, where Scott now lives, Sue, 58, said: “It wouldn’t be obvious to anyone who doesn’t see him regularly but he is a million times better than he was.
“He is starting to communicate more, which shows his brain is still working.”
During the trial of Stebbing and Edwards for attempted murder, consultant neurosurgeon Antonio Belli, who treated Scott at the Wessex Neurological Unit at Southampton General Hospital, told jurors Scott was unlikely to ever be able to communicate or interact with other people.
Sue, who lives in Lordshill, Southampton, said: “I was always convinced though that Scott could hear me and now I have been proved right.
“It is heartbreaking not to be able to have a proper conversation with my son but at least he can communicate now in some way.”
Scott, who lived in Bevois Valley, communicates mainly by looking at one of two large cards – a green tick for yes and a red card for no. But he is also able to use a board with letters on to spell out words, including his name, the word “mum” and his favourite football team, Saints.
Sue, who visits Scott twice a week, said: “Doctors really don’t know how much further he will progress, but the feeling is that he still has more to give.”
Despite his limited movement, Scott is taking part in a special triathlon at the end of February to raise money for brain injury charity Headway.
Credit: Will Carson, The Southern Daily Echo
Originally published on Monday 1 February 2010
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Thursday 21st January 2010 - Open Day for New Critical Care Ward
Prior to the official opening of our new specialist 8-bed critical care facility (Wylye Ward) at the end of Januay 2010, this open day offers an exclusive preview of the Ward and presentations from senior members of our Brain Injury Rehabilitation Team about the services we provide. This is the fifth and final Ward in our specialist hospital. It will provide care and support to level 3 patients with high-dependency rehabilitation needs, including the management of ventilated patients and ventilator and tracheostomy weaning. If you have not visited Glenside before you can also opt for an extended tour of the hospital campus. This event is specifically for healthcare and other professionals involved in the care of those with long-term neurological conditions or acquired/traumatic brain injury.
October 2009 - Investors in People Award
After a formal re-assessment which included staff surveys and interviews, it was announced that Glenside was, yet again awarded the Investors in People Award.
September 2009 - Laing & Buisson Awards
Glenside managed a remarkable 2nd in the L&B Independent Healthcare Awards 2009! The award (in the 'Innovation' category) recognised Glenside's pioneering and innovative CRT programme (Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy) which has been in place since January 2008. A programme which was initiated by two senior nurses at Glenside, who won a scholarship from the Florence Nightingale Foundation in 2006 to embark on a worldwide study of CRT in practice. The theories and methods have now been firmly embedded in the rehabilitation processes at Glenside.
Summer 2009 - Glenside wins HealthInvestor Award
It was announced, at a glittering award ceremony in London recently, that Glenside is the winner of the 2009 award in the category of Residential/Domiciliary Care Provider of the year. Health Investor, the leading magazine and website covering the healthcare sector, hosts these annual awards to promote excellence and recognise innovation in healthcare businesses. The management and staff at Glenside are thrilled with the news.
Autumn 2009 - New staff needed for new ward (Archived news item)
The team at Glenside is now planning for the opening of the fifth and final ward in our new Hospital in January 2010. We are looking for highly motivated registered nurses and care assistants to join our existing team. The team will work on the 8 bedded, purpose built ward and provide support to level 3 critical care patients. We will be developing services in critical care, in the management of ventilated patients and ventilator and tracheostomy weaning. For more details on all the current vacancies please go to our Jobs List page here >.
Autumn 2009 - 5 day AMPS Course (Archived news item)
The Occupational Therapy department hosted this 5 Day Course at Glenside, aimed at Occupational Therapists. AMPS (Assessment of Motor and Process Skills) is a revolutionary and very innovative approach to the long standing problem of how Occupational Therapists assess function. The visiting course tutors were Brenda Merritt and Sue Irving. Many OT's joined us for this 5 day course to learn about this reliable, and sensitive method of assessment of occupational performance. For further information about future courses, please email Jill Ferrie, Glenside’s lead OT on jferrie@glensidemanor.co.uk or call 01722 746852.
July 2009 - ATACP Hydrotherapy Foundation Course (Archived news item)
The physiotherapy department hosted this event from our brand new, state-of-the-art Hydrotherapy Pool suite at Glenside Hospital. This 2-day accredited course was aimed at Physiotherapists and other specialists working with patients living with neurological conditions. The visiting course tutor was Jacqueline Pattman MCSP HT (Clinical Specialist in Hydrotherapy). For details of future courses please contact Glenside’s Lead Physiotherapist, Gerry Harlow MCSP on 01722 746853 or email physiotherapy@glensidemanor.co.uk.
July 2009 - Recruitment Open Day (Archived news item)
We held a recruitment open day on Wednesday 22nd July from 8am to 6pm, looking for all grades of staff, care staff, qualified nurses, rehab assistants, therapists, and housekeeping assistants. Visitors all received a warm welcome in the Hospital Boardroom as well as a tour, a pack, job descriptions, and the chance to talk to other staff. For further details on vacancies please contact HR on 01722 746857.
May 2009 - New ward to open (Archived news item)
In the spring of 2009, staff were busy preparing for the opening of Glenside Hospital's 4th ward in May. The new ward, Nadder Suite wwas to provide care and rehabilitation to patients with neuro-behavioural needs. Already an area that Glenside was strong in, it was a natural choice to continue to provide extended services to this client group. Please contact Nadder@glensidemanor.co.uk with any enquiries or for referrals please contact the Director of Nursing Helen Pessell on 01722 746489 or hpessell@glensidemanor.co.uk.
January 2009 - Nurses wanted (Archived news item)
Due to continued expansion, we were seeking new nursing staff in the early part of 2009 for our new hospital where our nurses specialise in rehabilitation for brain injury and other neurological conditions. If you missed our special recruitment open day in January please don't worry - just contact us and we will arrange a time for you to come and have an informal chat regarding the career opportunities and to see the site and the facilities. For details of current vacancies see our Job List or contact Sue Dymond on 01722 746857 or sdymond@glensidemanor.co.uk.
October 2008 - Glenside Manager appears at UK Dementia Congress (Archived news item)
Sheila Pickering, Home Manager of Old Vicarage at Glenside, appeared at the BIC in Bournemouth to explain her team’s recent dementia work successes. The UK Dementia conference took place on 28-30 October at the Bournemouth International Centre. Sheila presented a poster and explained the project principles, which focussed on working with young adults with Fronto-Temporal Dementia to enable them to achieve higher levels of independence. Sheila and her team used ‘procedural’ and ‘error-less’ learning techniques during morning routines and had achieved some success in improving levels of independence.
Summer 2008 - Hydrotherapy pool and Physio Suite now in regular use (Archived news item)
As the first patients started using the new Hydrotherapy pool in the Glenside Hospital, it was clear to see the benefits they received from using this therapeutic and calming new facility. Light floods into the pool and the panoramic views of the Wiltshire countryside make this an uplifting and relaxing environment. The changing facilities are spacious and modern with all the facilities to cater for people with disabilities resulting from a brain injury or neurological condition.
June 2008 - Nursing Times award for 2008 (Archived news item)
For the second year running Glenside was successful in the Nursing Times Top 100 organisations for Nurses to work for awards. This includes both NHS and independent sectors and there was an increase in entries compared to the previous year. As stated by the Nursing Times "This is a tremendous achievement which reflects well on your employment practices and as a reflection of how your employees feel about their place of work".
Spring 2008 - Glenside Hospital phased opening begins (Archived news item)
Two of the 5 wards at Glenside Hospital opened their doors during the spring. Avon Assessment Suite which specialises in assessing patients when they first arrive at Glenside and Ebble suite where the team work with patients who require Neuro-Behavioural support and rehabilitation. The pleasant communal areas and modern rooms are being well received, most of which have panoramic views of the Wylye Valley.
January 2008 - Multi sensory room opens (Archived news item)
Guests, residents and staff attended a ceremony to officially open the new multi-sensory room. The room, designed to provide a feeling of well-being and to stimulate the senses, has special light lanterns, a multi-colour water bubble column, brightly coloured light curtains and projections and vibrating foot rests and cushions. There is musical equipment such as drum machines for the more lively or the sounds of birdsong and relaxing music for a more relaxed visit and there are even different scents in the air.
December 2007 - Disability Symbol award (Archived news item)
Glenside Manor been awarded the Disability Symbol by Jobcentre Plus, Part of the Department for Work and Pensions. Achieving and using the disability symbol means that we are committed to employing disabled people. There are five commitments which we have to adhere to and these will be reviewed on an annual basis.
November 2007 - Doors open at Horizon Close (Archived news item)
A ribbon cutting ceremony was held as Horizon Close begins to welcome new residents. The newly constructed bungalows resemble any normal close, yet these remarkable buildings are designed to support those in the final stages of their rehabilitation. With pleasant living areas, spacious en suite bedrooms and an open plan kitchen. 24 hour care and support is provided by the Horizon team.
July 2007 - Nurses visit New York hospital (Archived news item)
As part of their continuing study in to the Nurses Role in Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy, Andrew and Sally from Glenside spent a week visiting the out-patient Department at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. They witnessed the unique rehabilitation programme, spoke to staff and patients engaged in the programme and helped out in group therapy sessions. Some of the ideas from the programme are now used to enhance the service provided at Glenside. |
