The Hospital Team
WHILE IN HOSPITAL YOU WILL BE LOOKED AFTER BY:
WARD NURSES
While you are in hospital your closest contact with the multi-disciplinary healthcare team will be the ward nurses. They play a key role in the co-ordination of your care. Nurses usually work in rotating shifts so you will not always be looked after by the same nurse. However, most of the ward team will be present thoughout your stay and you will get to know each other.
The ward nurses are interested in you as an individual and all aspects of your life while you are in hospital; not just in problems associated with your amputation. They are always happy to help you and to answer questions, even ones of a delicate nature. Don’t forget, they’ve probably heard it before!
You will know the different ward staff by their uniforms:
Ward Sisters wear a plain navy uniform
Trained Nurses wear blue and white stripes
Health Care Assistants wear plain white
MEDICAL TEAM
You will be under the care of a specialist (Consultant) surgeon and his team. The team of trained doctors consist of:
- Your consultant
- His Surgical Registrar
- His Surgical House officer
You will see at least one of your team of doctors every day while you are on the ward. They will keep you informed of your treatment and progress.
PHYSIOTHERAPIST
Post amputation rehabilitation is a slow process and takes determination and effort. The extent of your recovery will depend largely on your physical condition prior to the amputation.
What is physiotherapy?
The treatment of injury by physical and mechanical means e.g. regulated exercise.
Physiotherapy plays an important role in the recovery of any person who has undergone the amputation of one or both lower limbs. Following amputation surgery, physiotherapy can help you to keep your joints supple and increase your muscular strength which is important as muscles atrophy quickly when they are inactive. This will help you regain, as far as possible , your independence in everyday activities.
Most of your physical rehabilitation and your training in stump care, transferring and walking will be done by the physiotherapists.
The hospital physiotherapist will help you with:
- Stump position
- Upper body strengthening
- Learning to transfer and move around the bed
- Learning to walk with your prosthetic limb
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
What is Occupational Therapy?
An Occupational Therapist will look at all aspects of your day to day functioning and activities, including your jobs and hobbies, and advise on equipment and techniques to make this easier.
In the early stages following amputation surgery you will rely upon a wheelchair to get around. If walking is not an achievable goal, then you will need to rely on a wheelchair for a longer period.
Your occupational therapist will organise the provision of your wheelchair and demonstrate how to use it correctly and safely. It is important that your remaining limbs are as strong as possible to help you with transfers to and from your wheelchair. You will need to keep your arms strong so that you can propel your wheelchair.
Any advice or exercise your physiotherapist or occupational therapist has given you should be followed so that you can be safe and successful. They have experience in prescribing courses of action that will best help you to regain your strength and independence.
Before you are discharged from the hospital, your occupational therapist will arrange an assessment visit of your home to ensure that it is ‘wheelchair friendly’ and ‘amputee friendly’. She can arrange for any necessary aids that you may require, assisting you to attain the optimum level of function and independence. It is worth noting here that some councils will ask for a deposit on the aids they supply you with and will request them back if and when you no longer need them.
SOCIAL SERVICES
Social services have a responsibility to care for people who are having difficulty coping with either a short term or a long term problem. They can:
- Provide services which support individuals through difficulties
- Help individuals lead more fulfilled and independent lives
- Protect people who may be vulnerable
They will be able to tell you more about the services available to you, which might include help with:
- adaptations to your home
- personal care
- day activities
- short or long term breaks in a residential nursing home
- skills training
- assistance with employment and training opportunities
- support for carers
- issue of ‘blue badge’ parking scheme
- help with financial benefits
- help with disability benefits.
The trained staff who work for social workers are called Care Managers. If you would like to speak to a Care Manager, please ask a member of the hospital staff to arrange this.
COUNSELLING SERVICE
Amputation can affect a person’s life as well as the lives of their relatives and friends.
You may feel sad and depressed about what has happened to you. You may be feeling anxious about the future, employment or intimate relationships. You may be struggling with feelings of low self esteem and loss of confidence.
The counselling service is there to help you adjust to an amputation. Counselling is available to you and your family. This is a confidential service.
