Clinical Research Office. A partnership between Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Sheffield

Specialised Rehabilitation

Introduction

The Specialised Rehabilitation Directorate encompasses the Princess Royal Spinal Injuries Centre (PRSIC) and the Mobility and Specialised Rehabilitation Centre (M&SRC) based at the Northern General Hospital. The Directorate delivers high quality clinical care and research to patients requiring specialised rehabilitation. It hosts comprehensive rehabilitation services for patients following a spinal cord injury (SCI), prosthetic, orthotic, wheelchair and Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) services and operates an advanced clinical gait and motion analysis lab.

Research Strategy

The Directorate’s main aim is to provide excellence in clinical care through research innovation. The Directorate has appointed a Research Lead and Research Co-ordinator and will continue to grow the research infrastructure, increase the research portfolio and establish further strategic partnerships. Specialised Rehabilitation has an established Research Executive Committee, which meets bi-monthly to review new research studies and grant applications and monitor research activity across the Directorate. The Committee ensure that research in the Directorate is aligned with the Trust’s and Directorate’s research strategy.

The Clinical Directorate of Dpecialised Rehabilitation Research Strategy 2018-2021 is available on request - getinvolved@sth.nhs.uk

Research Themes

  • Mobility and Physical Rehabilitation - includes research into rehabilitation devices to aid walking and upper limb stiffness of SCI patients, devices to treat foot drop, exoskeleton devices, continuous passive movement shoulder devices and new foot prostheses.
  • Pressure Ulcers (PUs) - identifying best practice for the prevention, treatment and management of PUs.
  • Acute spinal cord injury (SCI)  - includes research related to acute SCI patients.
  • Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES) - includes research into the clinical and management pathway of patients with CES.
  • Bowel and bladder rehabilitation - includes research into bowel and bladder complications following SCI.
  • Spasticity management – includes treatments for the management of spasticity.
  • Pain management - includes research into neuropathic pain.
  • Coping and adjustment strategies - includes research related to occupational and recreational therapy.

 

A list of recent Specialised Rehabilitation Grant Applications and Research Studies can be found clicking here.

Patient and Public Involvement in Research

Specialised Rehabilitation (SR) has a lay advisory Panel, which meet every three months. The main purpose of the Lay Advisory Panel is to ensure that research and services carried out within the Specialised Rehabilitation Directorate are patient focused. Further information on PPI involvement can be found here

Key Contacts

Name

Role

Contact Information

Ram Harihan

Research Lead

ram.harihan@sth.nhs.uk

Dr Andrew Beechey

Clinical Director

Andrew.beechey@sth.nhs.uk

Ian Scott

Operations Director

Ian.scott@sth.nhs.uk

Neil Thompson

Service Manager

Neil.thompson@sth.nhs.uk

Preeya Jaiswal

Lead Research Accountant

Preeya.jaiswal@sth.nhs.uk

Dr Debby Hawkins

Directorate Research Co-ordinator
Tel: 0114 3052249
Aimee Card

 

CRIO Research Coordinator

aimee.card@sth.nhs.uk