Community Neuro Services

The Tower Hamlets Community Neuro Team including Community Speech and Language Therapy Services (THCNT) provides multi-disciplinary assessment and support for adults with neurological difficulties such as traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injuries and neurodegenerative disorders (e.g. MS, MND, Parkinson’s Disease).

The team comprises of clinical psychologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, rehabilitation support workers a neuro navigator and an administrator. The community speech and language therapists see people with both neuro and non-neuro diagnoses.

We see people at their own home, in our dedicated gym or clinic space at Mile End Hospital or in other community settings as appropriate. Rehab provided by the team focuses on managing disability or helping patients to work towards set goals, maximising independence, safety, function and quality of life.

Each person referred will receive an initial assessment within 2 weeks of referral, if they have not already had one in the last 12 months by THCNT or by the referring team.  The aim of this initial assessment is to identify any multidisciplinary needs, manage immediate risk and facilitate correct prioritisation of the referral.  Due to the nature of the caseload, i.e. often requiring extended periods of rehabilitation or condition management, the THCNT is not a rapid response service. 

Following feedback from the initial assessment each discipline prioritises referrals according to clinical need. Each referral is assessed on an individual basis and takes into account factors such as patient/carer anxiety, risk of deterioration, window of opportunity for maximum rehabilitation gains and social situation such as social isolation.