Gill Atherton's healthwatch

STAYING in hospital can be a depressing affair, away from the family and familiar home comforts - but not at the Rehabilitation Unit in Sharoe Green!

Patients recovering from strokes, heart attacks and other illnesses that leave them unable to cope with everyday life, can go there to convalesce.

Apart from the medical care, like physiotherapy and occupational therapy, there's also a hectic social life - and it's all part of the treatment.

There's dominoes, whist, bingo, craft making, and training to re-learn simple activities like making a cup of tea, or dressing themselves.

Patients are even treated to lunch at the local pub now and again. It's all part of the process of getting back into a normal life.

Some patients are even trained for manoeuvring their wheelchair through sticky situations.

This week I met Renee Bradley who's been a patient at the Rehab Unit for the past three months.

Renee, 65, of Margaret Road in Penwortham, suffered a stroke four months ago and was left completely paralysed down her right side.

Since she's been at the unit, she's gradually learning to use her limbs, though she still needs help doing most things and getting around.

"I can't do anything for myself," she explained: "I am in a wheelchair most of the time and I have a brace on my right leg to keep it straight.

"But the physiotherapists have helped me and I can even walk a little with their support now."

Renee has just started to go home at weekends but not before nurses took her and her husband round the house and explained how to cope with Renee's new disability. That's just one role of the staff and helpers at the centre who also run the social events, arrange for hairdressers, chiropody, and manicurists to visit and even take them on trips out.

"It's all part of the job," explained 23-year-old Amanda Dryden who doubles up as a minibus driver. And staff nurse Lindsay Dewhurst added: "We operate like a day centre within the hospital, some patients are too poorly to come down but those who do, really enjoy it."

And Renee couldn't agree more: "It's certainly helped to get me back on track," she said.

The Rehabilitation Unit is always looking for volunteers with spare time to help out. Go along or call them on 711436 to find out more.

The Rehabilitation Centre is holding a charity fun day 1-4pm on June 8 with stalls, crafts, tombola, bouncy castle and refreshments.

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