North Somerset physiotherapist, Alex Holliday Highly Commended at Excellence Awards for work with stroke patient Rod,
Alex Holliday, a specialist physiotherapist at Sirona care & health was highly commended at the Sirona Excellence awards after being nominated by members of the public.
When nominating Alex, Rod and Ruth Newton from Nailsea said: “From the moment Rod came home from hospital after his stroke Alex believed in his improvement. She has worked always with great empathy and determination but with great gentleness and an abundance of hope and positivity. Her calm and ever-encouraging manner and her ability to listen and remain interested in whatever Rod was telling her won him over to have a go at anything she suggested and to keep trying relentlessly.”
“She has also supported me as his carer and given me ideas about what I can support him with to keep his progress going. In 18 months, she has helped him go from barely being able to pull himself up to now being able to walk with a stick with someone nearby.”
“She has introduced us to a stroke survivors’ workshop at a nearby leisure centre so Rod can continue to exercise. We feel so grateful to have had her care and expertise and to have her share our journey. We wouldn’t be where we are today without Alex.”
Sirona’s Integrated Community Stroke Service (ICSS) provides rehabilitation, advice and support for people who have had a stroke in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. The team were also nominated for an Excellence Award for the support they provide.
Ruth said: “The whole team has been unstinting in their ongoing care, support and encouragement – thereby enabling Rod to slowly regain mobility and confidence to enable him to walk with a stick and someone beside him. After four months in hospital there was only a 50/50 chance that he would walk but with their perseverance and endless patience – and expertise – he can.”
“Everyone has been so supportive – no question is too small; so patient -listening to Rod’s fishing tales; and so encouraging ‘just one more go Rod’ and so helpful to me his wife and his carer.”
“Nurse Sue on the end of the phone and with us immediately when needed, Alex and Helen full of more and more ideas of things to try, Janine and Dawn always with a smile and ‘well done’.
“We are grateful that we live here and can access this wonderful service. If only it was available all over the country.”
Julie Sharma, Interim Chief Executive, of the NHS and Local Authority funded social enterprise which provides community adult and children’s services across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, said: “Alex’s practice is a great example of treating people as you would your own family and friends, a core value at Sirona. The whole team has worked tirelessly to support Rod on his journey. A very worthy highly commended excellence award.”
The ICSS has started running sessions in Bristol to help people return to work after a stroke.
Sirona also runs the Stroke Sub Acute Rehabilitation Unit (SSARU) at South Bristol Community Hospital which enables people to regain their independence after stroke in a safe and supported environment.
World Stroke Day
This year, the World Stroke Organisation is highlighting the importance of time in recognising the symptoms of a stroke and calling for help.
Every minute a stroke goes untreated, millions of brain cells die. The faster the signs of a stroke are recognised, the sooner someone can get the treatment they need, increasing their chance of survival and recovery.
The FAST acronym – Face, Arms, Speech, Time – is a test to quickly identify the three most common signs of stroke.
- Face weakness: Can the person smile? Has their mouth or eye drooped?
- Arm weakness: Can the person raise both arms fully and keep them there?
- Speech problems: Can the person speak clearly and understand what you say? Is their speech slurred?
- Time to call 999: if you see any one of these signs.
