Phoenix Upper Limb Studio at the National Spinal Injuries Centre, Stoke Mandeville Hospital shortlisted for Acute Sector Innovation of the Year at the HSJ Awards 2021

Lucille Watts • August 26, 2021

The Pheonix Upper Limb Studio at the National Spinal Injuries Cenre, Stoke Mandeville Hospital.

It’s timely that at the start of the Tokyo Paralympic Games the Pheonix Upper Limb Studio at the National Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville Hospital has been recognised by being shortlisted for an Acute Sector Innovation award.


The upper limb studio, which officially opened in May 2021, provides a form of therapy known as Activity Based Restorative Therapy (ABRT). ABRT involves the use of equipment to facilitate repetitive movement to improve a patient’s level of independence following spinal cord injury.


The team chose the complete Upper Limb Tyrosolution by Tyromotion to help facilitate repetitive movements which would not ordinarily by achieved through hands-on therapy alone.


Working within a therapeutic framework, the team at the National Spinal Injuries Centre has demonstrated the positive impact of intensive repetition in rehabilitation, and the overall impact on functional tasks such as feeding, drinking, return to driving, carrying out aspects of personal care, and returning to work.


The upper limb studio was shortlisted out of over 1000 entries submitted for this year’s HSJ Awards. The judging panel was made up of respected figures within the healthcare community, including Sir Bruce Keogh (Chair, Birmingham Women’s and Children’s FT); Marie Gabriel CBE (Chair, NHS Race and Health Observatory); and former HSJ Trust of the Year winners Ann Marr OBE (Chief Executive, St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals Trust) and Richard Mitchell (Chief Executive, Sherwood Forest Hospitals FT).


The official awards ceremony to announce the overall winners in each category will take place at Evolution, London on 18 November 2021.

*Find out more information about the National Spinal Injuries Centre including its association with the Paralympics and the work of Professor Guttman.


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