Dawn Murray’s role named as good practice in NHS 10 Year Plan

Since the summer of 2023, patients under the care of our community stroke rehabilitation service have been getting additional support from a specialist psychological wellbeing practitioner – Dawn Murray.

We were very pleased to hear this role being mentioned as an example of good practice in the 10 Year Health Plan for England, especially as we know that timely access to psychological support can enhance the engagement in rehabilitation and recovery for people.

The benefit of Dawn working in this rehabilitation setting is that patients can easily understand who she is, and know that she’s part of our stroke service. People often see multiple healthcare colleagues, and it can be difficult for them to remember who they are and what support they offer. As part of her role, Dawn can also link in with other colleagues involved in a patient’s care, and equally they can also get in touch with her.

As a model, the specialist psychological wellbeing practitioner role could be implemented in many different physical healthcare settings. It has shown the benefit of diversifying psychological professions within a rehabilitation service, and we’re excited to see how this role could be extended into other areas in the future.

Read more about Dawn’s role elsewhere on our website: How psychological therapies are benefiting stroke patients - Somerset NHS Foundation Trust