Family and Friends Monthly Support Meetings
Family and Friends are invited, via the Family and Friends notice board to attend support sessions. The aim of the sessions is to provide help, answer questions, for attendees to meet others in a similar situation that they could talk to at other times too. It is important to the team that were are able to support Family and Friends and make them feel welcome and part of the patient’s team.
The sessions are led by a senior member of staff and a former patient. There is no set agenda to allow those that attend to talk about issues that they may need help with or just to talk with people in a similar situation.
Each session is usually different from others.
These meetings are held in the seminar room between 3:30 and 4:30 PM and the dates can be found on the family and friends noticeboard.
Family and Friends Information Days
Patients are encouraged to invite their Family and Friends to attend the Family and Friends Information day.
Our aim is for Family and Friends to learn more about spinal cord injury and the effects, to enable them to understand more about the changes that their loved one or friend is learning to live with.
Each session provides an overview of the topic with time for questions.
There is also opportunity to talk with some former patients, male and female, who have a wealth of experience living with a spinal cord injury
| Time | Session | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
| 09.00 – 09.30 | Registration and Coffee | Anne Seaman |
| 09.30 – 09.45 | Introduction, Overview and Housekeeping |
Anne Seaman Wendy Slater |
| 09.45 – 10.15 | What is SCI? and Autonomic Dysreflexia | Anne Seaman |
| 10.15 – 10.45 | Rehabilitation Programme | Rachel Coulson-Smith |
| 10.45 – 11.00 | Coffee/Tea | |
| 11.00 -11.30 | Skin Care |
Rachel Stowell Damian Smith |
| 11.30 – 12.00 | Wheelchairs and Cushions |
Matt Fiddy Ian Warren |
| 12.00 – 12.30 | Emotional Effects | Sophie Tegg |
| 12.30 – 13.15 | Lunch | |
| 13.15 – 14.00 | Bladder and Bowels | Ward Staff |
| 14.00 – 14.20 | Sex, Relationships and Fertility | Anne Seaman |
| 14.20 – 14.50 | Discharge Planning | Emma Leadbeater |
| 14.50 – 15.20 | Outpatient Services | Mel Williams |
| 15.20 – 15.30 | Coffee, Information Board and Information Booklet | Katy Wood |
| 15.30 – 16.00 | Living Well With Spinal Cord Injury | Former Patients |
Family and Friends on Call Rota
Each weekday a senior member of staff is on call to assist patients, family and friends with any questions and concerns. The Staff Member on call will also provide a tour of the Centre to allow them to find their way round and talk to their loved one about it. if you feel any of this would benefit you, please ask at reception.