Stroke Wards - Welcome to the Stroke Rehabilitation Unit (SRU)

Welcome to the Stroke Rehabilitation Unit (SRU)

A stroke can affect each person differently. It may influence how someone moves, eats or drinks, thinks, feels, and/or communicates. Following a stroke, some people will come to the Stroke Rehabilitation Unit for a period of rehabilitation. This may last for a few days or several weeks, and it is just the beginning of your rehabilitation journey.

Our Stroke Rehabilitation Unit at Salford Royal Hospital has a friendly, supportive team who will work closely with you to help you reach your goals and become as independent as possible. We’ll focus on what matters most to you and your family, so your rehabilitation is truly personal to you.

The ward consists of three four‑bedded bays and four single side rooms. Some patients prefer to be cared for in a bay, while others prefer a single room. However, bays and side rooms are allocated based on clinical need. Please don’t be offended if you are asked to move to a different bay or side room during your stay on SRU.

There is a courtyard available for all patients, which can be accessed via Bay One. We also have a day room with a television, along with a selection of DVDs, books, and games for your use.

When you arrive on the Unit, we will carry out an assessment so we can understand your needs and goals. You will then take part in therapy sessions that are tailored specifically to you. Whenever possible, we’ll also encourage you to practise activities on your own or with support from family or friends. Current stroke‑recovery guidance shows that repeating exercises and everyday tasks regularly is one of the most effective ways to improve.

While you are a patient on the Stroke Rehabilitation Unit, you and your family or friends will be invited to regular updates and discharge planning meetings. These meetings give you the chance to talk with the team involved in your care and rehabilitation, ask questions, and plan your next steps together.

Planning for what will happen after you leave hospital is something we might start thinking about with you from the moment you arrive. Many people feel happier and recover better in their own familiar surroundings. Early discharge planning also helps our whole team work closely with you and your family to make sure your discharge is well‑organised, with a smooth handover to our community therapy team, who will continue supporting your rehabilitation after discharge.

Visiting

Visiting is daily from 10am to 7.30pm, with extensions possible in special circumstances. Throughout the day, your loved one may see different team members, and you might be asked to step out during these sessions.

We recommend that relatives where possible bring in:

• Comfortable day and night clothes - We encourage all patients to wear their own clothing - promoting our “Best is dressed” campaign
• Underwear
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Toiletries
• Shaving equipment
• Hairbrush/comb

Facilities on site

• Marks & Spencer’s
• WH Smiths
• Cash machines
• Market stalls selling fresh fruit and vegetables
• Coffee shops
• Grounds Café
• Stott shop
• Pharmacy
• Car parking
• Chaplaincy

Infection control

Please wash your hands when entering the ward. If our staff remind you to do this, please don’t be offended - we are working hard to protect our patients from infections. Due to infection‑control precautions, we may occasionally need to limit access or ask visitors to follow additional safety measures.

Mealtimes

Protected mealtimes are 12.30pm until 1.30pm and 4.30pm until 5.30pm. Relatives/friends may be asked to leave during these hours, this is to allow patients to eat without interruption and promote nutrition. However, if you would like to support your loved one with feeding during these times, please let the nursing team know.

We are unable to heat up any food on the ward as we do not have the facilities to do this. If you are bringing in food from home, please check with nursing staff to see if this is compliant with their recommended eating and drinking consistencies.

Meet the team

Ward Manager

The SRU Ward Manager is Janet Collins; she can be contacted Monday to Friday on 0161 206 1901.

Medical team

The Stroke Medical Team includes a Medical Consultant, Nurse/ Non‑Medical Consultant, Advanced Clinical Practitioner, Physician Associate, and rotational junior doctors. Members of this team are available on the ward Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm.
Outside these hours, the ward nursing staff will contact the on‑call medical team if any issues arise or if a patient becomes unwell.

There is a consultant‑led ward round on Mondays and Fridays. During this time, we kindly ask that the medical team is not interrupted unless there is an emergency, and they are not available for ad‑hoc updates unless they feel it is necessary to speak with you sooner. Between ward rounds, the medical team will review patients as needed. To protect the privacy of all patients, visitors may be asked to wait in the waiting area or day room while the ward round is taking place. We also meet weekly as a team to discuss every patient’s progress.

Nursing

The nursing team plays a key role in supporting your recovery after a stroke. They will help with your day‑to‑day care, monitor your symptoms closely, and ensure that any changes in your condition are acted on quickly. Nurses will work with you to promote independence, supporting you with personal care, mobility, eating and drinking, and managing medication safely. They will also encourage you to practise the skills you are relearning in therapy sessions and provide guidance to your family or carers, so they feel confident in helping you. Throughout your stay, the nursing team will be there to offer reassurance, answer questions, and make sure you feel safe, supported, and involved in your care.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapists work with you after your stroke to help you learn to move so you can get around with the aim of helping you to be as independent as possible. You may have weakness in your arm, leg or trunk, changes to your sensation or problems with your balance following your stroke. On the Stroke Rehabilitation Unit, our physiotherapists use a range of specialist techniques and equipment to help you build strength, improve mobility, and feel more confident doing everyday activities. If your ability to move has been affected, they will also advise you on the safest and most effective ways to move around, for example from bed to chair.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapists will work with you on everyday activities that are important to you to promote your independence for when you are discharged from the hospital. They will also focus on how your stroke may have affected your thinking skills, such as concentration, memory and your vision. They may visit your home to see what you might need when you leave the hospital and arrange any equipment that could help make daily tasks easier and safer.

Speech and Language Therapy

Speech and Language Therapists support people who have swallowing difficulties and/or challenges with communication - both of which are common after a stroke. Before starting any therapy, they will conduct a range of assessments to understand your needs and create a personalised therapy plan. They may also provide activities for you to complete with your loved one to help continue your progress between sessions.

Dietitian

Dietitians support your recovery by making sure you are getting the right nutrition after your stroke. Poor nutrition can often affect your recovery. They will assess your nutritional needs and provide a personalised plan to support you during your stroke rehabilitation. They can also provide dietary advice to help keep you healthy after your stroke. Dietitians may also provide advice for you and your family on how to continue supporting your nutritional needs once you leave the Unit.

Neuropsychology

Neuropsychologists work with patients who have experienced changes in their thinking skills, mood, or behaviour following a stroke. These changes can affect memory, attention, problem‑solving, and emotional wellbeing. Neuropsychology provides support in many ways, including helping you understand these changes, offering strategies to manage them, and supporting your emotional adjustment during recovery. They also work closely with families and carers, offering guidance and reassurance to help them understand how best to support you.

Social worker

Social Workers work closely with the team on the Stroke Ward to help ensure your discharge is smooth, safe, and tailored to your needs. They carry out person‑centred social work assessments to understand what support you may need at home or in the community. Their role is to promote empowerment, inclusion, and wellbeing, while upholding your rights in line with the Care Act 2014. Social Workers also support families and carers, helping everyone feel prepared and confident for the next steps.

Feedback

We welcome all feedback, as it helps us continue to improve our services. You can share your comments - positive or negative - using the patient feedback book at the reception desk. You can also contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) or use the HELP phone if you prefer.

Further Support/key contacts

Ward number - 0161 206 1901/0161 206 1283

Physiotherapy/Occupational Therapy - 0161 206 1329

Ward Manager - Janet Collins (Mon-Fri, 7am-5pm)

Salford Community Stroke Team- 0161 206 2352

Salford Community Social workers - 0161 206 4820

Useful websites

Stroke Association
www.stroke.org.uk

BASIC
https://www.basiccharity.org.uk/

Headway
www.headway.org.uk

Speakeasy
www.speakeasy-aphasia.org.uk

Gaddum
www.info@gaddum.org.uk

Salford City Council Welfare Services
www.salford.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/health-services/ health-improvement-connect/gp-asked-you-to-get-in-touch/

Salford Loaves and fishes - charity for the homeless or socially isolated
www.salfordloavesandfishes.org.uk

Andy's Mans Club - psychological support group
www.andysmanclub.co.uk