Early Supported Discharge Team (ESD)

The Bournemouth and Poole UHD Stroke/Neuro ESD Team provides an early, intensive specialist rehabilitation service for stroke and neurological patients for up to six weeks based on clinical need.

The team helps patients to leave hospital and return to their own homes so they can maximise independence as quickly as possible after their stroke or neurological event. Rehabilitation is centred around their individual goals and delivered in a setting that is meaningful to their lives.

Patients are referred directly from the stroke units or hospital wards and are usually seen within a few days of discharge.

The service is made up of stroke/neuro specialist staff that covers a 7 day a week service to provide specialist rehabilitation.

These include:

• Physiotherapists
• Occupational Therapists
• Nurses
• Speech and Language Therapists
• Rehabilitation Assistants
• Consultant Therapist for Stroke and Neuro

Rehabilitation goals will depend on the individual but tasks may include:

• Mobility
• Washing and dressing
• Kitchen tasks
• Shopping
• Memory strategies
• Talking
• Swallowing
• Emotional support
• Care givers support, teaching and education
• Lifestyle and health

After a period of ESD rehabilitation in their own home patients can be referred to the appropriate community services for on-going rehabilitation if required.

In addition to ESD some patients may also be supported by a care package or a community rehabilitation team. We work closely with these teams to update them on the patients' progress and what goals they can continue to work on.

Catchment area

ESD covers Bournemouth (BH1-BH11), Poole (BH12-BH18), and parts of Dorset (BH21, BH22, BH23, BH31 and parts of BH24). The patient needs to be registered with a Dorset GP.

Contact details

To contact the team for more information:

Tel: 0300 019 4473

General enquiries and to discuss a referral: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Team lead: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Consultant Therapist (Stroke/Neuro): This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.