Hospital team up with Chelsea FC Foundation to help stroke patients
Nathan Powell was discussing a business proposal with a client when he felt ‘a loud bang’ in the back of his head.
“I remember my vision blurring and struggling to stay conscious,” said the 56-year-old banker who was later told he has suffered a stroke.
The keen runner had completed a half marathon several days earlier with no ill effect and suddenly found himself a reluctant member of the Young Stroke Survivor’s Club.
Nathan added: “I thought strokes were something that happened to other people. One minute I was OK, the next my world was turned upside down."
If Nathan’s stroke and subsequent hospitalisation was unsettling, then the day he left hospital was worse.
“It is really frightening to be given a leaflet, some medicine and be sent home to fend for yourself. I was so anxious about it happening again it felt like walking on eggshells.”
Stroke experts recognise the majority of stroke patients living in the community do so with little or no support.
In response, Northwick Park Hospital has teamed up with Chelsea FC Foundation to run a free 12-week programme offering these patients weekly two-hour sessions offering practical advice and support.
The secondary prevention programme, funded by NHS England, combines exercise with educational classes to support patients who may not be receiving support from the health service.
The one-year pilot could help more than 100 people a year minimise the risk of further strokes through adopting a healthier lifestyle.
Sophie Kempsford, Clinical Specialist Therapist (Stroke) and project lead, said: “The programme is all about empowering the participants and giving them the confidence to implement a healthy lifestyle.
“We provide evidence-based education to improve their understanding of stroke and its risk factors. We give them the tools to help them improve their diet, level of activity and mental and physical health.”
Nathan added: “I enjoyed the classes and found them useful. The exercise classes gave me the confidence to start pushing myself under expert guidance, while the educational classes helped fill in a lot of gaps.
“It’s also great being around people who have gone through a similar experience. I found talking to be people so helpful because you are with people who have been through a similar experience."
Activities, which were jointly run by staff from the hospital and Chelsea FC Foundation included football, circuits, tai chi, mindfulness, breathing exercises and yoga. Educational classes included manging anxiety, confidence, healthy eating and spotting the early warning signs of stroke.
Anne-Marie Smith, Health and Wellbeing Manager, added: “Chelsea FC Foundation are extremely proud of our Bridging Blues: TIA programme expansion to support the Harrow and surrounding areas.
“The aim of our programme is to educate, motivate and inspire stroke survivors to live a healthier, fuller life, while promoting exercise for life with our pathway activities within the community.
“We are really pleased to offer the much-needed support to so many participants, and are looking forward to starting our next cohort.”
Participants reported changes including losing ten kilograms in the first eight weeks of the programme, positive changes in diet and regularly practicing the group exercises at home.
It is now recruiting patients across north-west London for its next two programmes.
If you would like to be involved in future two cohorts, please contact Sophie Kempsford Project Lead on sophie.kempsford@nhs.net or Chelsea FC Foundation.