AN ELDERLY woman from Flintshire who suffered a stroke has praised a new Betsi centre that helped her 'walk and talk again'. 

Ann Ellis from Bagillt had a stroke on Christmas Eve last year and was taken to Ysgol Glan Clwyd before being transferred to a new rehab centre in Llandudno. 

The new stroke rehabilitation centre has opened in Llandudno General Hospital to ensure patients have the best chance of a good recovery after having a stroke. 

When 78-year-old Ann first arrived she found it difficult to talk, walk and move her right arm.

Thanks to the support from a full range of multidisciplinary specialist staff including physiotherapists, nurses, doctors, psychologists, speech and language therapists and occupational therapists, Ann can now communicate again and is learning to walk with an aid. 

READ MORE: Deeside woman who suffered stroke praises team who helped her recover at home

Ann said: “When I first got here I couldn’t talk, I’m still a bit jumbly, but I'm getting better and better. I’ve been seeing all the therapists every day, here in the rehab centre we get a lot more time with the therapists, they’re really good. 

“I’m learning to walk along on the bars now too, I’m determined, you have to be don’t you, the therapists keep me busy and keep me going.” 

Ann’s relatives, daughter Caroline Pritchard and sister Sue Toplass, have also praised the staff saying, “they’ve been fantastic, we can go home after visiting and have no worries, because the staff are so lovely, and we know she’s being well looked after”. 

Consultant Stroke Therapist Dr Sushmita Mohapatra, said: “I’m delighted to see the stroke rehabilitation centre open for our patients to help boost their recovery. 

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“It’s lovely to hear Ann’s kind words about all the staff and how well her treatment is going with the multiple discipline of therapy. 

This is the second of three new specialist community inpatient rehabilitation centres to open in North Wales for patients who no longer need specialist stroke treatment at an acute hospital, but still require stroke rehabilitation that cannot be delivered at home.  

The first centre opened in Ysbyty Eryri in Gwynedd last year, and the third centre will open imminently in Deeside Community Hospital.