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Being here makes peopleget better quickerAnna Money, (below) speech andlanguage therapist says the unit mimicsreal life, helping people recover morequickly.“It’s wonderful, the bedrooms arehomely and private, but we have placeswhere we can all meet. It’s like real life.Sometimes people just want to go homeand have their rehabilitation therapy ona day to day basis, but having anappointment on a Monday morning isn’tlike reality, whereas the rehabilitationthey get here is like real life – it goes onseven days a week. It makes people getbetter quicker, it gets them as strong asthey can be so they can get back homeor to somewhere where they can beindependent.“When people come to us they havebeen through one of the most traumaticexperiences anyone could have to dealwith in life and we want them to leavein a better way. That’s what the BrainInjury Unit does.”Onwards and upwardsFor Dr Kevin Foy, ConsultantNeuropsychiatrist (above) the movebrings huge advantages. “Before peoplewould have to go to what seemed a faraway place when they left the WaltonCentre for the next part of their treatment,now patients and families simply pop upthe stairs to us.“We have lots more medical back up,not just through scanning and x-rayfacilities but also expert opinions; it alsogives better integration between the WaltonCentre teams and our therapists.”• You can see our Brain InjuryRehabilitation film at:merseycare.nhs.ukIt’s like the HiltonWhen Irene (right) went to the unit sixmonths ago she couldn’t speak.“I have severe brain damage from fallingdown the stairs. I’m better, but I havebrain damage. The staff are marvellous,even if you just want to chat aboutsomething. I say to my son in Canada it’slike the Hilton Hotel - it’s fabulous!“After being here for six months I’vestarted speaking again; I can make myown breakfast now, I couldn’t do thatbefore. They help you to do it. Theydon’t throw you in at the deep end butthey say ‘let’s just see if you can do that.’“21