Local hero Deborah Harrison was nominated by the family of one of our patients.
“When my father was discharged from hospital back to his home after a stroke, Deborah went above and beyond her role as a community physiotherapist at every stage.
Deborah and her occupational health colleague met us at home where she assisted us to organise a new walking stick. She also helped us to put the equipment he needed to keep him safe in his home. She put us in contact with an incontinence nurse and the Low Vision Foundation and suggested and ensured we sourced an electric bike. She organised speech therapy for him.
Dad had been high functioning and independent until his stroke and being unable to read and check current affairs on the internet as a result of the injuries he had sustained from his stroke was a huge source of frustration for him.
Deborah did more than help us with equipment and teach Dad the exercises he needed to do to maintain his ability to walk, she deeply communicated with him about what he needed to make his life meaningful after the stroke.
Basically, Deborah has enabled us to put together a life worth living for my father after his stroke. We would not have been able to do this without her professional skills, interest, and care, which went far beyond 'just doing her job'.
Deborah is indeed a local hero and I have no doubt that she will have assisted other families to rebuild lives as well.”
