Hyper Acute Rehabilitation Team (HART)

We support people to maximise their independence and return to enjoyment of meaningful activities. We provide specialist assessment and therapy for people who have: 

• Cognitive impairment, such as difficulties with orientation, memory, reasoning and attention.
• Motor skill deficits, such as changes to strength, coordination or sensation.
• Postural and specialist seating requirements.
• Fatigue changes and who require support with their daily routine.
• Low levels of awareness of the environment around them (disorders of consciousness).

We provide specialist assessment and therapy for people who have:

• Difficulties with mobility, balance and dizziness.
• Strength, sensory and coordination issues.
• Changes to muscle and joint range of movement.
• Difficulty breathing and coughing effectively. 
• Tracheostomies (a breathing tube).
• Low levels of awareness of the environment around them (disorders of consciousness).

We provide specialist assessment and therapy for people who have:

• Changes in their communication, such as producing and understanding language, unclear speech, changes to how the voice sounds and social interaction skills.
• Communication difficulties requiring support to contribute to decisions around their care.
• Difficulties with swallowing when eating and drinking.
• Low levels of awareness of the environment around them (disorders of consciousness). 
• We also work closely with Physiotherapists, Doctors and Nursing staff to support patients who have tracheostomies to communicate and swallow safely

We assess and manage patients’ hyper-acute rehab needs following severe injury, which can often be complex and disabling. 

Following a biopsychosocial model of healthcare, we consider the person’s medical and rehabilitation needs in the context of their life and circumstances. Our focus aims to be holistic, recognising the importance of the ‘whole person’. 

We work with the team of therapists to help identify and assess ongoing rehabilitation needs and we liaise with appropriate onward rehabilitation services to facilitate a supportive discharge from the acute hospital setting.

You can expect to receive your initial therapy assessment within the within the first few days of being admitted to the ward. 

Due to fluctuating demands on the therapy teams, we cannot guarantee the frequency of your sessions. How often you are seen may also change over the course of your admission, however we will strive to provide as much rehabilitation as is required. 

Due to the nature of the acute hospital setting, your therapy sessions are not timetabled. We can aim to accommodate preferences for approximate timings of sessions where possible

Not necessarily. How an injury affects someone can differ between people. You will be assessed and seen by the therapy disciplines identified based on your particular set of needs.

Not officially, but as your areas of focus for therapy become clearer, there may be one particular therapist who becomes your main point of contact.

Acute hospitals often rely on the movement of patients to different wards or areas to accommodate new patient admissions. There is therefore a possibility that you may not remain on your original ward for your whole stay. In this case, your team of therapists will provide a verbal and/or written handover of the input you have received to your new team of therapists, who will continue to work with you.

Southmead Hospital has access to an interpreting service. This can be helpful to support patients and families where English is not their first language. An interpreter can be helpful in helping you understand you or your relative’s current medical and rehab plan. Please speak with your Nurse or Therapist if you wish to use this service.