Long-term Follow Up

Once you leave the Unit, you will be offered long-term follow-up by our medical doctors as well as our outpatient and liaison nurses.

You will be reviewed at 6 weeks post discharge to see how you have been doing. Additional appointments are then scheduled at 3 months, 6 months and then yearly. The purpose of outpatient appointments is to offer an ongoing high level of care. Typically, issues discussed at clinic include such things as pain, spasm, and bowel and bladder function.

Normal medical issues not related to your spinal injury are still best treated by your GP.

Depending on where you stay, you may want to come to the Unit for your outpatient appointments, or you can be seen in your local health board when the medical team do outreach clinics. There is also the option for remote sessions on a computer screen or over the phone.

Life long support is also available from our associated charities.

Spinal Nurse Specialists Sally and Seonag will be your link between the Spinal Unit and home once you have been discharged.

You will meet them during your time in the Unit and you will have lifelong contact with them if you need it.

They will make contact with you soon after you leave the Spinal Unit and, where required, will arrange to visit you post-discharge.

They will be available to give advice, support and education at any time - not only for yourself but your loved ones, care teams, community nurses, GPs or any other healthcare professionals you may be in contact with. Please also visit our Education resources for further support.

They will often be a link between you and other specialist services you may require.

Our Spinal Nurse Specialist service provides support across the country. Outreach clinics are provided in Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Huntly, Arbroath, Inverness, Dumfries and the Borders - this may make travelling to clinic a little easier for you.

There will also always be the option to contact Sally and Seonag remotely and/or to have your clinic review remotely by telephone or video link if this works better for you.

Seonag.Macdonald@ggc.scot.nhs.uk