St Leonard’s Ward is part of Wallingford Community Hospital – providing rehabilitation and palliative care for people who no longer require the services of an acute hospital but require greater support than currently provided in their home environment.

Recently, the team provided care for a patient named Roger, who has lived with Parkinsons for over 11 years. Roger and his wife, Pam, have pledged to live an active life amongst the challenges of the disease.

Both Roger and Pam were worried a recent stay at Wallingford Hospital may restrict their active lifestyle – but the Wallingford Therapy Team gave the couple hope with their excellent care to support Roger’s recovery. Just 11 days after Roger’s discharge he was able to enjoy his home and venture out in the car again – this would not have been possible without the team.

Alongside other health professionals, the team provided a reassuring, caring, and safe environment. They have great ambition for their patients and are never short of providing them with motivation and self-belief in their recovery.

The team employ strategy and procedures to test and develop individual capacity to ensure patients can return home. They engage with both the patient and their loved ones to make decisions and help the experience be less daunting – Pam praised the team for their interactions, and suggested it helped the productivity of care.

The happy and positive atmosphere gives the team a united front, all committed to the goal of patient recovery, doing everything they can to support patients to live their life to the full.

Trust Chair David Walker said:

“I am delighted to read the fantastic patient feedback the Wallingford Therapy Team received – it demonstrates the real difference this service makes to people’s lives. This award recognises the great level of care the team show to their patients, helping them to recover the best they can”.

Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist Claire Austen commented:

“The kind words and recognition for the therapy staff involved in this particular patients’ care are a welcome boost in these challenging times and all too often we can hear more about the things we don’t do well rather than the things we do.

“It has been wonderful to see the positive ripple effect this feedback and award has had on the whole team. For a patient’s loved one to take the time to thank the team in this way means so much and is a wonderful reflection of the service they deliver every day to our patients.

“As clinical lead I am very proud of this team and how they facilitate engagement and positive outcomes with our patients and work together with our wider MDT to ensure patients receive the highest standard of rehabilitative care.

“We are fortunate to have a diverse and broad skill mix within this team who blend together seamlessly to support each other’s learning and workload and there is a shared sense of camaraderie and sense of fun that translates beautifully into making our patients admissions a positive experience.”

The nomination

The Wallingford Therapy Team were nominated by Pam for their exemplary care.

Pam commented:

“My husband, Roger, has lived well with Parkinsons for over 11 years but a recent illness in August/September 2024 meant a prolonged hospital stay. Rehabilitation was offered at Wallingford, and we snapped up the opportunity. We are so glad we did.

“From the outset we were warmly welcomed to St Leonard’s Ward and immediately the team approach across the medical disciplines to ensure patients are cared for and speedily become well enough to return home was so apparent. In particular, the physical therapy team worked regularly and effectively with Roger to help him regain his strength and manage the mobility challenges that Parkinson’s presents.

“The team were always monitoring his movements and activity to ensure he worked safely but at the same time presented well designed physical challenge to build his strength and physical capacity. Parallel to that outcome the atmosphere intrinsic to this team is so positive, it helps patients to commit to their rehabilitation activity.

“My husband also enjoyed the shared ‘banter’ and good humour. Parkinson’s is a disease that can adversely affect mood, the physical activity improved his mood every day. Finally, Rachel an OT associated with the team, was so helpful too. She visited our home and subsequently organised specific aids including a bed to be delivered to ensure Roger can live more easily back at home. Her advice was so insightful and significantly helped Roger to return to a safer home.

“The care shown to select activity to assist Roger’s recovery was thoughtful; for example, I was asked to measure the height of steps at home. The team subsequently set up appropriate step challenges. They even went the extra mile to ensure Roger could safely transition from his four-wheel walker to his car seat.

“The team also committed to an obviously well used procedure to record activity and progress. Over the weeks this provided a record of achievements and indicator of success. Roger and me, as his wife and carer, got positive feedback from these records and it was motivating.

“As an observer it was also obvious that the intensity and degree of the challenges were adjusted to test and help Roger increase his capabilities. This team are quietly efficient and beyond our specific experience I witnessed their interactions with other patients. The degree of care and attention they give towards their work and personal interactions is second to none.”