Every year, between 150 to 160 people are treated on the Complex Rehabilitation Unit at Chapel Allerton Hospital.

The multidisciplinary team care for patients with complex neurological and traumatic conditions, including brain injuries and strokes, who often need to spend weeks or even months in hospital before they are able to return home.

In May 2021, the Complex Rehabilitation team and their patients held a mammoth fundraising challenge, raising over £12,000 to help refurbish the therapy assessment kitchen for patients.

The current therapy kitchen is nearly 30 years old and was purpose built for to meet people’s needs at that time. Since then, patients’ needs have become more complex, and patients requiring specialist seating and those who can walk are unable to utilise the space.

Working on kitchen tasks is a way of challenging cognitive and sensory-motor functions as part of rehabilitation. This also helps encourage patients to live more independently in the future as they practice and demonstrate functional skills for life after discharge. The renovations will also include new laundry facilities which will create further opportunities for engaging rehabilitation.

Thanks to your donations, and money raised through the fundraising efforts, the kitchen is now being transformed to meet the needs of every patient on the ward.

As well as modernising outdated facilities, the refurbishment will include the installation of adjustable work surfaces and drop-down cupboards so that patients can reach for items at height even from seated position.

Claire Collie, Occupational Therapist on the unit says:

“We treat patients with a range of conditions, and we want to make sure that every patient has treatment tailored to their individual needs. By transforming our therapy kitchen, we are giving all of our patients the opportunity to do something for themselves, even something simple like making their own cup of tea, can be a big step forward in their recovery journey.”

This renovation will mean that every patient has access to the best possible treatment throughout their stay on the unit, helping them to regain their independence.

Before

After