Page 155 - Mind, Body and Spirit No. 105 2021/22

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REGIONAL REHABILITATION UNIT EDINBURGH
WO2 (QMSI) JR McCulloch RAPTC
This last year within the RRU Edinburgh has seen a turnover of all bar one member of military staff. So, before I go any further, I want to thank all those who have left the RRU and wish them all the best in the next stage of their career, in particular to WO2 (QMSI) Issy Menzies who leaves the Army after a solid 22-year shift. Good luck to you all!
The last year has seen a change on the course delivery front with the 3-week general courses now becoming 2-4 week “bespoke” courses. To the sharper readers that’s a change in name but it also signals an end to the RRU Edinburgh delivering any Uppers, Spines or Lowers specific courses.
This change has also seen the introduction of the ‘trickle feed’ courses here at RRU Edinburgh. The trickle feed means there is an admission clinic for new patients every Monday and a discharge clinic every Friday resulting in course patients at different stages of their course.
This has presented a few challenges with the delivery of the course with individuals being at different stages of their course as well as their rehabilitation plan. So, a few pieces to juggle and overcome but it will be no surprise to anyone reading this that the team here have done so successfully and continue to deliver high quality care to all patients referred onto a course.
The recent news of the sale of Redford Barracks continues to create and prolong issues with regards to the aging and tired infrastructure in Redford barracks. Add to this the delayed return to “normal” after the pandemic (in Scotland) which has caused a drastic reduction in the number of patients that we are able to admit onto courses.
However, there is light at the end of the tunnel and these numbers are increasing steadily and should see us at near pre-pandemic numbers again by the next print of MBS.
In the wider reaches of the Scotland region, we have seen the ERIs continue to deliver high-quality care drawing praise from the patients attending courses who can’t say enough good things about their PCRF clinicians.
There are several ERIs stepping up to the plate this year delivering various In-Service Training sessions to their departments as well as heading out to units within their area to deliver group therapy sessions on a regular basis at unit level.
Given the geographical challenges of the region it is hoped that these locally delivered group therapy sessions will help ease the strain of patients required to travel long distances to attend the RRU.
These sessions are continually being assessed and a review of these will take place within the next few months, but it must be said that the early signs and feedback are positive.
SSgt (SSI) Paterson and Sgt (SI) McNamara with the new RRO and RRU 2IC and lead physio
SSgt (SSI) Paterson educating the latest intake of patients
Different stages of the ‘Trickle Feed’ with patients split between an IP session and education
Still feeling the effects of the pandemic in Scotland as spacing restrictions remain