Stroke and neuro rehabilitation
CAG Leads
The aim of the CAG is to promote dedicated orthoptic services for individuals who have had a stroke or neurological deficit. Our target is to promote specialised assessment, treatment, and research for this complex group, and for orthoptists to play a role as part of the multidisciplinary team in improving a patient’s rehabilitation journey.
For further information on the role of orthoptists in stroke services, please read our position statement.
Information and resources for patients
Our public and patients page on vision problems after a stroke or brain injury has information on services on common conditions and how an orthoptist can help. We’ve also produced a series of information leaflets for patients containing information on different conditions and tips for managing the symptoms.
Resources for other healthcare professionals
Driving and vision
Vision is a critical component of safe driving, and as such, orthoptists play a key role in ensuring their patients meet the minimum eyesight standards.
Position Statement for Vision Services in Stroke Practice
Other Resources
Royal College of Physicians: The RCP’s core mission is to drive improvements in health and healthcare through advocacy, education and research.
They are an independent patient centred and clinically led organisation, that drives improvement in the diagnosis of disease, the care of individual patients and the health of the whole population both in the UK and across the globe.
NICE provides evidence-based recommendations developed by independent committees, including professionals and lay members, and consulted on by stakeholders.
Stroke-Specific Education Framework: In response to the National Stroke Strategy (2007) the UK Stroke Forum developed a training arm with the task of establishing nationally recognised, quality-assured and transferable education programmes in stroke.
The VISION group evaluates visual impairment in acquired brain injury and neurological conditions, explores and develops outcome measures in orthoptics, and seeks to explore the complexity of co-existent visual and functional impairments. There is a wide variety of resources available, including open-access research papers.
Stroke Training and Awareness Resources (STARs)The Stroke e-learning programme has been designed to provide an overview of stroke care across the entire pathway and promote better patient care, by providing all health and social care professionals and multidisciplinary teams with the appropriate level of knowledge, skills and experience they need to deliver effective stroke prevention and care to people with stroke, and at risk of stroke. Please follow the link for more information. http://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/stroke/
HEE are also working closely with system partners and stakeholders to deliver improvements along the entire patient pathway for stroke services. The details can be found here: https://www.hee.nhs.uk/our-work/population-health/stroke
HEE have developed Stroke Training films that discuss a series of difficulties stroke survivors may experience, including problems which affect communication and movement, as well as low mood and anxiety. Please follow the link to this series. http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrVQaAxyJE3fVEKGwkawdUUIyovogWNHs
Stroke Training and Awareness Resources (STARs): This e-learning resource provides a learning tool for health and social care staff to enable them to become more knowledgeable and skilful in the challenging area of stroke care. The resource is based on the Stroke Core Competencies, which were published by NHS Education for Scotland (NES) in 2005.
The website provides a multidisciplinary resource which focuses on a wide range of core knowledge and skills required by all staff when delivering stroke care.