We were thrilled to invite Jennie Gow, BBC F1 presenter to open our Stroke Rehabilitation Unit at Frimley Park Hospital last week.

The new dedicated rehabilitation unit extension is the result of the charity’s Stroke Appeal.  The extension, redesign, and refurbishment project resulted from the charity’s fundraising appeal. The Stroke Appeal was supported by 1600 donors and raised an incredible £608,000 out of an overall build cost of just over £1m.  

The Trust and the charity discussed what was required from the build, and it was decided that the extension and redesign would be accessible from the stroke unit and would provide dedicated rooms for speech therapy, psychological assessments, a quiet area, and a new garden for patients. 

Jennie Gow was just 45 when she had a stroke in December 2022, caused by a blood clot which damaged the part of her brain associated with speech. She was brought to Frimley Park Hospital by ambulance and later transferred to St George’s Hospital in Tooting for emergency treatment. Speaking at the event, Jennie said: “I’m delighted to open this new rehab unit and garden which will provide a valuable and peaceful space for patients and their families and friends. The stroke unit played a massive part for me in setting the foundations to have a good recovery.

Andrew House, charity director, said: “We raised more than £600,000 in our dedicated stroke appeal and we are thrilled to be opening the new rehab unit for the stroke unit at Frimley Park. This incredible build is all thanks to the generosity of our donors, many of whom were at the event. It was great to allow them to see the brand new unit and the difference it will make to the recovery journey of the hospital’s stroke patients.”