New rehabilitation equipment for stroke patients

Patients recovering from a stroke will be able to benefit from new rehabilitation equipment thanks to a generous donation from the Friends of Eastbourne Hospital. The Friends Stroke Therapy Room has been equipped with a variety of reclining and tilting chairs, a tilting wheelchair, various muscle stimulators for hands and arms and folding screens to provide privacy along with other rehabilitation equipment at a cost of £160,000.

In the Stroke Therapy room Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists and Speech and Language Therapists provide patients recovering from a stroke with rehabilitation to help them regain function before they continue their rehabilitation in a community setting.

The Friends Stroke Therapy room was opened by The Worshipful the Mayor of Eastbourne Councillor Janet Coles. She said: “A stroke can be so scary because one minute life is fine and then in an instant, a stroke can completely knock you off the rails. This therapy room with its new equipment will help people recover from the effects of a stroke. Thanks must go to the Friends of Eastbourne Hospital and the generosity of people in Eastbourne for donating their money.”

Harry Walmsley Chairman of the Friends of Eastbourne Hospital said: “We are pleased the Friends have been able to support this stroke therapy room with new equipment. This equipment will benefit so many recovering from the effects of a stroke. The Friends of Eastbourne Hospital can only support the hospital in the way it does thanks to the tremendous generosity of local people.”

Dr Conrad Athulathmudali Consultant Stroke Physician said: “On behalf of the staff who work in the acute stroke unit I would like to thank the Friends for their generosity in providing this wide range of rehabilitation equipment.”