Bevan Fellow
Esther is a Speech and Language Therapist currently working in the Community Neurological Rehabilitation Service and the Early Supported Discharge Team for Stroke in Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.
Esther has always had a passion for holistic communication rehabilitation, with a particular enthusiasm for music and its role in Stroke Rehabilitation. This stems from her previous career as a professional viola player. In 2019, together with Chroma Music Therapist, Vicky Guise, she jointly set up the first inpatient Aphasia-Friendly Choir in Wales. The Aphasia-Friendly Choir and related research has been recognised and presented at conferences both within Wales and across the UK.
Esther has also recently completed a RCBC Wales First into Research Fellowship.
As the Speech and Language Therapist for the Community Neurological Rehabilitation Service (CNRS), Esther has recently launched a co-produced collaborative initiative between C&V UHB, Cardiff Metropolitan University’s (CMU) Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) Department and Chroma.
As part of this novel cross-boundary collaboration, the team runs community-based CNRS/CMU communication groups, including a community-based Aphasia-Friendly Choir with Chroma at CMU. Sharing resources across health and education means patients can access this much-needed community-based service, but with additional benefits to themselves, the NHS CNRS, CMU and Chroma.
Esther hopes that the support offered by the Bevan Fellowship will come at exactly the right time in terms of defined points of evaluation and reflection, showcasing, research and further development of this new and extremely valuable service.
“Specifically, I would welcome the opportunity to discuss the development of current ideas to make the groups themselves sustainable, ultimately enabling individuals within C&V UHB with long-term neurological conditions to feel empowered to live meaningful and fulfilling lives.”
As a Bevan Fellow, Esther hopes to be immersed in an environment that supports her to bring about change for the patients, her colleagues and the service.
