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Spinal Cord Injuries Unit

What the service does
Who provides the service
How to access the service
Location of service
Visiting Hours
Useful links


What the service does

The Spinal Cord Injuries Unit provides intensive rehabilitation when you have suffered a spinal cord injury. This is an injury to the spinal cord or nerves at the end of the spinal canal that results in temporary or permanent loss of mobility and/or feeling.

You may be admitted to SCIU as an inpatient if you cannot manage daily tasks on your own due to very limited mobility after the injury.

As an inpatient, we will assess your needs and give you a personal rehabilitation programme. The aim is to help you gain as much independence as possible and improve your quality of life.

Your rehabilitation will include:

  • occupational therapy and physio sessions
  • meetings with your nurse, physiotherapist, occupational therapist and social worker
  • meetings between your family and your treatment team (optional)

Before you are discharged, we will take you to your home with an occupational therapist to see if it is suitable for your needs. This means you will know if:

  • your home needs updated
  • you need different living arrangements

Who provides the service

  • Doctors
  • Nurses
  • Auxiliary nurses
  • Physiotherapists
  • Occupational therapists
  • Social workers
  • Clinical psychologists
  • Dieticians
  • Speech and language therapists
  • Podiatrists

How to access the service

If you suffer a spinal cord injury, you will initially be treated in an acute hospital. A hospital consultant will then refer you to the rehabilitation programme in the Spinal Cord Injury Unit.

A consultant from the Spinal Cord Injury Unit will visit you to decide if SCIU is the best service for you. If they believe it is, you will be transferred to SCIU when you are medically fit to start rehabilitation.

Location of service

The Spinal Cord Injury Unit is in the Withers building at Musgrave Park Hospital.

Visiting hours

  • Monday to Friday: 3.30pm to 5pm and 6.30pm to 8.30pm
  • Saturday, Sunday and public holidays: 2pm to 5pm and 6.30pm to 8.30pm

Useful links


Locations where this service is delivered

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