Eastwood Ward

LEM (Learning Environment Manager) Sam Goodwin 01246 512344.

Should you be absent for any reason please contact the ward and ask to speak to the nurse in charge. You must report your reason for absence and anticipated return date as well as contacting university.

It is well documented that strokes are the 3rd largest cause of death in the U.K. as such the Government and the Department of Health are investing time and money into raising awareness and increasing the specialist stroke services that are available.

Strokes are caused by a disturbance of blood supply to the brain. The world health Organisation definition of a stroke is,

'a clinical syndrome consisting of rapidly developing clinical signs of focal disturbance of cerebral function lasting more than 24 hours or leading to death with no apparent cause other than vascular origin.'

There are two main types of stroke:

Ischaemic stroke: These are the most common and occur when a clot narrows or blocks a blood vessel reducing the oxygen supply to the surrounding cells resulting in the death of those cells.

Haemorrhagic stroke: These occur when a blood vessel bursts and blood leaks into the brain causing damage.

Transient Ischaemic Attacks (TIA): also known as a mini stokes are a major warning sign of stroke. The signs and symptoms of a TIA (Facial droop, weakness to arms and legs, slurred speech) are the same as these for a stroke but last for less than 24 hours. With the correct prophylactic treatment many people suffering from a TIA can be prevented from experiencing a full stroke.

Learning Opportunities

Care of the acute stroke patient
Care of the rehabilitation patient
NG/PEG insertion and care
Working within the multi-disciplinary team
Discharge planning
Stroke Clinic
Early Supportive Discharge Team
CT/MRI/Ultrasound scans
Thrombolysis
Working alongside Stroke Psychologist
Working alongside Research nurses
Family meetings/Discharge planning meetings
Assessing patients in the Emergency Department
NIHSS/ABCD2 assessments

Shift times:

Long Days (LD) 07:00 - 19:30

Mornings 07:00 - 14:30

Afternoons 13:30 - 21:00

Long Nights (LN) 19:00 - 07:30

The Students rota is planned in conjunction with their allocated time on the ward and their required hours.

Specific requests should be identified as early as possible as the rota is usually completed at least 4 weeks in advance. Any changes must be approved by the LEM or Matron.

Information

Total Anterior Circulation Strokes (TACS): Patients with this type of stroke exhibit 3 of the following features;

Unilateral weakness (and/or sensory deficit) of face, arms and legs.
Homonymous hemianopia
Higher cerebral dysfunction (Dysphasia, visuospatial disorder)

Partial Anterior Circulation Stroke (PACS): patients with this type of stroke exhibit 2 out 3 of the following;

Unilateral weakness (and/or sensory deficit) of face, arms and legs.
Homonymous hemianopia
Higher cerebral dysfunction (Dysphasia, visuospatial disorder)

Lacunar Stroke (LACS): patients with this type of stroke only exhibit one of the following features:

Unilateral weakness (and/or sensory deficit) of face, arms and legs.
Homonymous hemianopia
Ataxic hemiparesis
No evidence of higher cerebral dysfunction

Posterior Circulation Stroke (POCS):

Cerebellar or brain stem syndromes
Loss of consciousness
Isolated homonymous hemianopia

Staff you will work with on Eastwood ward;

Matron Sisters Nurses Healthcare Assistants Ward receptionists Nursing Associates

Social Workers Physiotherapists Dietitians Occupational Therapists Clinical Psychologists Doctors

Research Nurses Activities Coordinator Infection Control Speech and Language Therapists Pharmacists

The ward can facilitate 36 patients at any one time.

2 Hyper acute beds. 14 Acute beds 20 Rehabilitation beds.