Patient stories
A 12-week table tennis programme may improve movement, balance and walking endurance in people with Parkinson’s, a small pilot study suggests. Participants were able to walk further after completing the NeuroPong programme and reported fewer symptoms of depression than at the start. The programme combines table tennis instruction with exercises tailored to people with Parkinson’s. [...]
When Barry first moved into Albert Road, National Care Group’s specialist neurological service in Levenshulme, Greater Manchester, he was coming from a difficult period in his life. Following a stroke that resulted in a brain injury and left him with communication difficulties, Barry spent a long time in hospital before being placed in an elderly [...]
An Exeter stroke survivor who had a stroke at 29 has turned to stand-up comedy to help rebuild her life and confidence. Molly Kinsey’s act focusses on the chaos of raising her young son, and audiences are stunned when she reveals that she survived a stroke. She is determined not to let the memory problems, [...]
Heroic Andy Read has been saluted as “superhuman” as he prepares for a new milestone in his inspirational recovery from a catastrophic brain injury. Andy will don a brunette wig and specially awarded golden cape when he dresses up as Marvel icon Thor to take part in the Superhero Tri, a triathlon that takes place [...]
In October 2025, Terry's life changed dramatically. What initially appeared to be a heart attack was diagnosed as an aortic dissection. During his recovery, he spent six weeks in a coma, suffered two further heart attacks and a stroke, and remained in hospital for three months before being referred to Circle Rehabilitation. Before his illness, [...]
When Andrea moved into National Care Group’s Ashbrook Neuro Rehabilitation following a long hospital stay, her ultimate goal was to live independently again with her dog. At 55, Andrea was found unresponsive with a significant brain bleed. This resulted in a brain injury that left her with left-sided weakness, mobility challenges and difficulties with memory [...]
Alan*, 52, has regained strength, mobility and function in his left shoulder, arm and hand 34 years after experiencing partial paralysis following a spinal cord injury as a teenager. He achieved these gains by completing a groundbreaking eight-week programme combining ONWARD Medical’s newly-approved ARCEX spinal stimulation system with the Neurokinex Activity Based Rehabilitation protocol. One [...]
A service user at Cygnet Alders is making a powerful difference to others by bravely sharing her lived experience and leading a psychology group for both staff and patients to raise awareness of head banging and how it can be reduced. Charley, who has been at the Gloucester-based Cygnet Health Care hospital on Podsmead Road [...]
The COMET newborn brain injury trial has recruited its 100th baby, marking a milestone for one of the world’s largest neonatal neuroprotection studies. The study, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research and led by researchers at Imperial College London, is testing whether babies born with mild hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy benefit from therapeutic [...]
The slow-stream rehabilitation Nathan received at National Care Group’s Ashbrook Neuro Rehabilitation in Rochdale after a motorcycle accident empowered his determination to achieve greater independence, rebuild lost skills, and get back to doing the things he loves. The person-centred progression model of support that Nathan received enabled him to achieve positive recovery outcomes, leading to [...]
