Victoria Ward (Stroke Unit)

About Victoria Ward

Ward Manager	Senior Sister Irene Quince
Matron	Denise Flisher
Telephone	01234 795753

Victoria Stroke Unit is situated along the main corridor near accident and emergency. The unit is a 15-bedded ward which includes three-bedded hyperacute rooms. There is also a day room and a patient's garden and there are Victorian murals on the wall, which are now protected by English Heritage, all of which ensures a pleasant, relaxing environment for patients.

The Victoria Stroke Unit is led by Dr Abdul Elmarimi, the stroke consultant - together with his multidisciplinary team. The team is made up of doctors, a stroke specialist nurse, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and dieticians. The team works closely with other professionals such as pharmacists, social workers and community rehabilitation teams.

It is our aim to make patients' period of recovery as quick and as comfortable as possible, to support patients and their carers as best we can, and to support patients and their families through the discharge process with involvement of the specialist multidisciplinary team where relevant.

We generally ask our patients to dress in their own clothes as part of their rehabilitation. Please ensure that their names are sewn on and that they are taken home for washing at very regular intervals. Valuables should not be left on the ward but taken home as the hospital cannot be responsible for any loss.

Infection Control

Alcohol hand gel is placed at various parts of the ward for staff and visitors to use, especially when entering and leaving the ward.

Flowers are not permitted on the ward for infection control reasons, if you would like to bring a gift for a patient you may wish to bring good quality toiletries especially soap, moisturising body wash or talcum powder.

The Multidisciplinary Team

There are a number of nurses, therapists and doctors who work on Victoria Ward. They will all be under the leadership of the following people depending upon their disciplines:

Dr Abdul Elmarimi, stroke consultant
Dr Sue Chirico, stroke coordinator
Josette Milligan, stroke specialist nurse
Irene Quince, ward manager
Chris Kitching, nurse team leader
Steven Waterfield, nurse team leader
Emily Kerin, senior occupational therapist
Nicola Ellis and Margaret Barr, senior physiotherapists
Andrew Wilson, stroke dietician
Jo Prince, senior speech and language therapist
Sarah Garland, social worker
Omar Zeb, senior pharmacist
Leslie Knowles, family support officer, The Stroke Association

The doctors will see all patients most days. The consultant does his ward rounds every Tuesday morning and Friday morning. If you need to meet with the consultant, it is best to contact his secretary on 01234 792099 to make an appointment.

On the Victoria Stroke Unit we are happy to give information and communicate as broadly as possible to our patients and their carers. Please ask to speak to the shift coordinator about your concerns or worries and they will endeavour to help and advise, sometimes referring you to speak to specific members of the multidisciplinary team who may be in a better position to answer your questions.

For more complex help and queries please ask to speak to the stroke coordinator or the ward manager.

Privacy and Dignity

For more information about how the hospital is working to eliminate mixed-sex sleeping, toilet and washing facilities, please visit the privacy and dignity pages of the website.

Visiting Times

Visiting times on the ward are 2pm to 4.30pm and 6.15pm to 8.15pm. Visiting is not permitted between 4.15pm and 6.30pm unless by prior arrangement and agreement with ward staff. This is to ensure patients have uninterrupted time in which to eat their evening meal. To find out more visit the protected mealtimes section of the website.

Visiting times may be subject to review from time to time as we take in consideration our patients needs and wishes, incorporating adequate rest periods when necessary. Visiting outside of normal hours can be discussed with the nurse in charge (the shift coordinator) who will consider exceptional requests sympathetically.