Provision of physiotherapy and occupational therapy in outpatient departments and day hospitals for stroke patients in Nottingham

Abstract

The provision of rehabilitation for stroke patients discharged from hospital in Nottingham was determined in three ways: a longitudinal study of consecutive stroke patients discharged from hospital, a cross-sectional survey of stroke patients attending physiotherapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT) outpatient departments (OPDs), and an observational study of patients attending for rehabilitation at day hospitals (DHs) and PT and OT OPDs. In the longitudinal study 17% of patients went to DHs and 20% to OPDs. During the cross-sectional study patients most commonly attended twice weekly. Twenty-four per cent of DH attenders were 18 months post-stroke. In the observational study, the proportion of time spent in therapy was 22% in DHs, 38% in PT OPDs, 48% in OPD OT, and 51% in those attending both PT and OT OPDs. Day hospitals are now a major facility for the rehabilitation of stroke outpatients. OPDs may deliver rehabilitation more efficiently than DHs, and both OPDs and DHs compare favourably when compared to inpatient rehabilitation in this respect.