World Stroke Day: Meet the team behind stroke care | News

This World Stroke Day (29 October), we are recognising the dedication and expertise of the multidisciplinary team working in our Stroke Unit. 

Located at Maidstone Hospital, the Trust’s Stroke Unit treats more than 1,200 stroke patients every year. A stroke is a serious, life-threatening medical emergency that occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off. It can happen to anyone, at any age, and urgent treatment is essential. The sooner a person receives specialist care, the greater their chance of survival and recovery, and the lower the risk of long-term disability.  

The Stroke Unit includes the Hyper Acute Stroke Unit, which provides immediate 24/7 emergency care and rapid assessment during the first 72 hours following a stroke. Patients are then transferred to the Acute Stroke Unit for ongoing specialist treatment and rehabilitation.

Patients in the Stroke Unit are cared for by a multidisciplinary team of specialists, including doctors, clinical nurse specialists, dietitians, orthoptists, physiotherapists, therapists, researchers and discharge coordinators. Working together, they provide life-saving treatment, support rehabilitation and recovery, and help ensure stroke survivors can achieve the best possible outcomes.

This World Stroke Day, we meet some of the people behind stroke care to learn more about their roles and what they enjoy most about working in the Stroke Unit.  

Dr Navraj Chattha, Consultant in Stroke and Elderly Care Medicine, and Stroke Clinical Lead

“My role on the Stroke Unit is to assess patients who have experienced a hyperacute stroke and may be eligible for specialist treatments to restore blood flow to the brain, such as intravenous thrombolysis or mechanical thrombectomy. I then continue to look after them while they receive rehabilitation.

“I work closely with the multidisciplinary team to review each patient’s progress from both a medical and therapy point of view. I enjoy working collaboratively with the team to achieve the best possible outcomes for the patients in our care.

“Stroke can affect people of any age for a variety of reasons, so every day brings new challenges and opportunities to develop my knowledge and skills as a clinician.

“The most rewarding part of my role is seeing patients, particularly younger stroke survivors, make remarkable recoveries after what can be a life-changing event. It is especially rewarding when their progress enables them to return home much sooner than initially expected.”

Suresh Selvaraj, Senior Physiotherapist

“I support patients from the very early stages after a stroke, helping them regain movement, balance and physical function.

“I work closely with doctors, nurses, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and the wider team to achieve this. Working together means we can provide patients the right support at the right time, and the best possible chance of recovery.

“A stroke can change someone's life in an instant. Patients often arrive to the Stroke Unit feeling frightened and overwhelmed. Being able to support them through those difficult early days, offer encouragement and help them see progress, even in small steps, is very meaningful.

“Stroke survivors show incredible resilience. Every day I see patients overcoming challenges with remarkable determination, and it is inspiring to be part of that journey.  

“The most rewarding part of my role is seeing patients achieve things they never thought possible and knowing I’ve helped them along the way. Whether it's standing, walking or returning home to their families, witnessing those milestones is very special.”

Victoria Reed, Occupational Therapy Assistant

“My role is to help stroke survivors regain the skills, confidence and independence they need for everyday life, so they can safely return to their daily activities. This includes supporting personal care such as washing, grooming and dressing, as well as mobility and cognitive rehabilitation.  

“I work closely with colleagues across the multidisciplinary team to monitor patients’ progress and identify any barriers to recovery. Everyone on the Stroke Unit plays an important role, and I value being part of a team working together towards a shared goal.

“I enjoy working directly with patients and their families. Recovering from a stroke can be a challenging and emotional experience, and being able to offer encouragement, reassurance, and practical support can make a real difference to their motivation.

“Many patients arrive on the Stroke Unit feeling uncertain about their future, so I find it really rewarding to support them through their rehabilitation and witness the progress they make in regaining their independence.”

Varsha Unmesh, Senior Dietitian

“My role is to make sure patients receive the nutrition they need to support their recovery after a stroke. This includes assessing patients who are eating poorly, have swallowing difficulties, are at risk of malnutrition or need tube feeding.

“Good nutrition plays a vital role in stroke rehabilitation and recovery. I work closely with speech and language therapists to support patients with swallowing difficulties, with nurses who monitor food and fluid intake, and with doctors and therapists to make sure nutritional needs are considered as part of each patient’s overall treatment plan.

“One of the greatest strengths of the Stroke Unit is how well everyone works together. We each bring different skills and expertise, but we are all focused on the same goals of helping patients recover and providing the best possible care.

“Seeing the difference that good nutritional support can make to a patient’s rehabilitation is what makes my job so rewarding. It’s a privilege to play a part in someone’s recovery journey.”

Man Ying Cheung, Speech and Language Therapist

“My role involves assessing and supporting patients who experience difficulties with swallowing and communication following a stroke.

“I work closely with nursing colleagues to ensure patients receive appropriate oral care, food and fluid, with personalised plans in place to help them eat and drink safely.

“I also support patients with communication difficulties, helping them understand information and giving them strategies to express their needs and preferences so that they can take an active role in decisions about their care.

“Stroke affects each patient differently. I enjoy the challenge of adapting my assessments and therapy approaches to each patient's individual abilities, priorities and goals, supporting them through what can be a life-changing period as they adjust to daily life after stroke.

“Multidisciplinary teamwork is essential on the Stroke Unit. Stroke can affect many aspects of a person’s life and no single profession can address all their needs. Working alongside colleagues from different disciplines helps us provide holistic care and achieve the best possible outcomes for our patients.”

Helen Veal, Advanced Orthoptist

“As an Orthoptist on the Stroke Unit, I assess patients for visual problems that may occur following a stroke, including visual field loss, reduced vision, eye movement disorders and visual perception difficulties.

“I provide advice on treatment and rehabilitation, helping patients manage symptoms through exercises, reading aids and practical coping strategies, and signposting them to support services where needed.

“Working closely with the multidisciplinary team is an important part of my role. I run training sessions for colleagues to raise awareness of stroke-related visual impairments and how best they can support patients, such as considering where a patient’s bed is located on a ward should they be experiencing visual field loss.

“I also advise the team on how visual deficits may affect therapy, increase a patient’s risk of falling and impact their day-to-day activities.

“The most rewarding part of my role is helping patients and their families better understand the visual effects of stroke, knowing that the advice and support I provide can make a positive difference to their lives post-stroke.”

Laura Henderson, Research Physiotherapist

“My role is to help embed research into everyday clinical practice. I work closely with doctors, nurses, orthoptists and therapists to identify patients who may be eligible for research studies and to ensure research can take place safely while minimising disruption to clinical care.

“My role also involves keeping up to date with new research opportunities and working with clinical colleagues to assess whether proposed studies can be delivered safely and effectively on the Stroke Unit.

“The most rewarding part of my role is helping patients and families feel empowered to take part in research. Many patients tell us they want to contribute to improving care for future stroke survivors, and it is a privilege to support them in doing so.

“It is also rewarding when research findings from studies that we have supported lead to real changes in practice.”

Kate Farrow, Community Stroke Pathways Coordinator

“I am responsible for coordinating the rehabilitation and discharge pathways for stroke survivors, helping to ensure they receive the right care and support after leaving hospital.

“I work closely with patients, families and healthcare teams to support complex discharges, coordinate referrals and rehabilitation services, provide specialist advice, and monitor the quality of our stroke pathways. I also help train staff, review performance data and work with partners across health services to improve and expand rehabilitation opportunities for stroke survivors.

“I love working with colleagues from so many different areas of practice, knowing we are all working towards the same thing – to make the journey as safe, easy and fulfilling as possible for our stroke survivors.

“Stroke is a complex condition, and the journey for stroke survivors and their loved ones can be equally challenging. Knowing that I can help make their journey a little easier and support them in reaching their goals, however big or small, is incredibly rewarding.”