Innovative Stroke Rehabilitation programme for Countess of Chester Hospital patients wins national award

A pioneering online rehabilitation service supporting stroke patients across Cheshire and Merseyside has received national recognition after winning a top award at the Advancing Healthcare Awards 2026 in London.

The NeuroRehabilitation OnLine (NROL) service received the award for Best Collaboration Across Clinical, Academia and Industry, recognising the strong partnership between clinicians, researchers, NHS organisations, patients and carers.

The accolade reflects the collective effort to redesign rehabilitation services to make them more accessible, effective and patient-centred.

In a highly competitive category, judges praised the collaborative approach that underpins NROL and its impact on improving patient care.

The Cheshire and Mersey NROL service, which launched in 2024, delivers rehabilitation to stroke patients through real-time, therapist-led group sessions.

Delivered virtually via Microsoft Teams, the programme brings together NHS therapists from hospital trusts across Cheshire and Merseyside to provide a range of support including physical rehabilitation, cognitive therapy, talking therapies and community-based sessions.

By enabling patients to access therapy from their own homes, NROL helps to increase both the frequency and intensity of rehabilitation, whilst also building confidence, promoting self-management and reducing isolation through group-based support.

The initiative has been supported by the Stroke Quality Improvement for Rehabilitation (SQuIRe) programme and is available to patients receiving care through a range of NHS trusts across the region, including the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

This latest accolade recognises the hard work and dedication of the Cheshire and Mersey Stroke Network, clinicians and the NROL team, as well as the vital contribution of patients and partners who have helped shape and develop the service.

Amy Bastow, Project Lead for Cheshire and Mersey NROL said:

“We are incredibly proud to receive this national recognition for NROL. This award reflects the strength of collaboration across our teams, partners, and the patients and carers who have helped shape the service,” she said.

“NROL is about making rehabilitation more accessible, flexible and meaningful for people in their everyday lives, and it’s fantastic to see the positive difference it is making across Cheshire and Merseyside.

“This achievement is a testament to the dedication, innovation and commitment of everyone involved,” she added.

Sue Pemberton, the Trust’s Depurty Chief Executive Offcer and Director of Nursing and Quality said:

“This is a fantastic achievement for everyone involved and a clear demonstration of what can be achieved through strong partnership working. NROL is transforming how we deliver stroke rehabilitation, helping us to reach more patients, reduce variation in access, and provide high-quality care in a way that better fits people’s lives.

“I’m incredibly proud of the teams across Cheshire and Merseyside who have made this possible,” she added.

• NeuroRehabilitation OnLine (NROL) is a group-based rehabilitation programme for people who have had a stroke or other neurological conditions.
• The service is delivered online using Microsoft Teams and is facilitated by NHS therapists from partner trusts across Cheshire and Merseyside, with dedicated technology support available.
• The programme includes physical therapy, cognitive rehabilitation, talking therapies and community support sessions, tailored to individual patient needs.
• Patients typically begin with an introductory “Meet and Greet” session, allowing them to meet the team and test the technology before starting their personalised programme.
• The aim of NROL is to increase access to neurorehabilitation by offering additional supervised therapy sessions in a convenient, real-time, home-based format.