April 15, 2011 10.26 am This story is over 154 months old

New equipment for city stroke victims

Splinter for strokes: New equipment for stroke patients has now been made available at Lincoln County Hospital.

Patients in Lincoln who lost control of their hands after a stroke can now receive better treatment due to new donated hospital equipment.

Lincoln County Hospital now has six hand splints and associated equipment, donated to the Physiotherapy Department by the Bromhead Medical Charity.

The splints are a new piece of equipment, making Lincoln County Hospital one of the first in the region to begin using them.

This means that patients can receive hand control treatment earlier on in their rehabilitation.

Clinical Lead for Neurological Physiotherapy Sean East said: “The benefits of this treatment to our patients are enormous.

“Our patients will be receiving hand control rehabilitation sooner, preventing some of the complications of disuse, helping those that meet the criteria to regain hand control much earlier in the rehabilitation process.

“On behalf of our patients, I would like to say a huge thank you to Bromhead Medical Charity for their valuable support to our services.”

After a stroke, patients can sometimes loose the ability to outstretch their hand after getting hold of something.

The splints work by mechanically unclasping the hand for patients. It also provides carious activities to practice the action on.

The sessions help patients gain back a little more control over the clasp movement.

Charity representative Sue Bailey said: “Stroke affects many people and this service is helping to significantly improve the quality of life for stroke patients locally.

“This is why we have chosen to donate to this very worthy cause.

“It gives me tremendous pleasure to see the equipment already in use within the well-deserving Physiotherapy Department at Lincoln County Hospital.”

Source: ULHT