MAGAZINE

A Good Move“People would have to go to what seemeda far away place when they left the WaltonCentre for the next part of their treatment –now we’re based at the Walton Centrepatients and families who are ready forrehabilitation simply pop up the stairs to us.”Dr Kevin Foy, Consultant Neuropsychiatrist.Mersey Care’s rehabilitation serviceis a national leader, accreditedexcellent by the brain injury charityHeadway. Formerly housed atMossley Hill Hospital the servicehas made the move to a homebefitting of its status, within theSid Watkins building at the WaltonCentre for Neurology andneurosciences in Aintree.It’s a move that means acute andrehabilitation services are all under oneroof. So when people with acquiredbrain injuries make their own move,from the acute to the rehabilitation partof their care, it’s only to the next floor.What does this move mean – and whywas it a good one? Dave Evans, UnitManager explains: “Being based atMossley Hill meant we were a long wayfrom the Walton Centre, where mostof our patients came from. It madesense for us to be here to improve theexperience for people in the transitionperiod.”Better by designThe design of the new unit wasimperative. “When someone has abrain injury, they can be easily confusedso environment and design are veryimportant. Our staff were involved inthe design right down to the décor andfurniture. They decided what roomswent where and they told us howservice users’ bedrooms should look.“There’s a garden and an outdoorbalcony so people who come to staywith us have plenty of outdoor spaceand fresh air, we have therapy rooms,a gymnasium, a large lounge with aseparate female only lounge and arehabilitation kitchen. We now have apurpose built facility that everyone canbenefit from.”20