The Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust (BIRT) is a division of The Disabilities Trust and the means by which The Disabilities Trust provides its brain injury services.
BIRT has developed two innovative partnerships with an NHS Foundation Trust and a leading mental health charity to provide specialist neuro-rehabilitation services.
Goole Neuro Rehabilitation Centre (GNRC) is a partnership between BIRT and Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
York House is the result of a successful partnership between BIRT and mental health charity, The Retreat.
Both are tested models, with successful outcomes for service users, which have the potential to be replicated and adapted in other parts of the UK too.
For an informal discussion and/or to arrange a visit to GNRC or York House please contact Mike McPeake, Development and Infrastructure Manager, on 07764 261694 or mike.mcpeake@thedtgroup.org
Goole Neuro Rehabilitation Centre
Goole Neuro Rehabilitation Centre (GNRC), which opened in 2007, offers specialist post-acute rehabilitation, where service users are admitted directly from neurosurgical wards or acute medical/surgical services, and community integration rehabilitation.
It provides a continuous link for each individual through their pathway of care from in-patient services through to re-integration into community
York House
York House, which opened in 1999, is a 28-bedded neurobehavioural rehabilitation unit, registered as an independent hospital, for people with an acquired brain injury whose behavioural and cognitive deficits mean they are unable to return home or which make it difficult for them to be supported in other rehabilitation settings.
Working together with the NHS
This video explains how the partnership between BIRT and Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has contributed to the success of the Goole Neuro Rehabilitation Centre (GNRC).
Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust contributed an empty ward in Goole Hospital in which the service is located. BIRT contributed capital with which to recommission and furnish the centre.
Both partners contributed professional knowledge, skills and experience to make sure the project was as successful as possible.
The GNRC model would be readily transferable to other similar projects as the blue print has been set and tested to facilitate partnership working.
The Cooperation Agreement and protocols are available to support this model of working. Our first 12 months experience has enabled us to further refine working practices.
Clinical outcomes
Outcomes from the GNRC and York House demonstrate that by working in partnership BIRT and its partners can achieve:
reduced costs
improved clinical outcomes
reduction in appropriate placements
reduction in out of area placements
better use of clinical resources
a seamless pathway of care for complex neuro-rehabilitation services.
Since its launch in October 2007, the GNRC has demonstrated considerable benefit to those who have used the service.
'In the past year we have had 30 admissions and 20 discharges,' said Dr Miles Rogish of Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Length of stay has ranged from short assessment with intense physiotherapy rehabilitation of only six weeks to longer-stay community reintegration of approximately 39 weeks.
The majority of discharged clients have returned home, at times with support packages by community rehabilitation teams.
'Overall trends of discharged clients have shown increased functional abilities, decreased neurobehavioural disability, increased independence and participation, and less restricted settings upon discharge,' said Dr Rogish.
For an informal discussion and/or to arrange a visit to GNRC or York House please contact Mike McPeake, Development and Infrastructure Manager on 07764 261694 or mike.mcpeake@thedtgroup.org
