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Neurorehab · UK

Post-stroke rehab - intensity, in the window that matters.

A consultant-led multidisciplinary programme after ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke - neuro-physio, OT, SLT and neuropsychology on a single plan, delivering the therapy doses that actually change recovery.

A radiographer guides a patient onto the bed of an advanced 3 Tesla MRI scanner in a London imaging suite

Indicative pricing

What private stroke neurorehab costs in the UK.

Indicative ranges across our partner neurorehab units.

In short

Two-week intensive outpatient block: £6,000–£12,000, with 3–5 hours daily across the MDT.

Programme Indicative range
Intensive outpatient session (per hour) £300–£600
Two-week intensive outpatient block £6,000–£12,000
Four-week intensive inpatient block £8,000–£25,000
Consultant neurorehab assessment £350–£600
Robotic upper-limb therapy add-on £120–£250/session
Home-based neuro-physio (per visit) £120–£180
Driving assessment (DVLA-recognised) £500–£850

Prices vary by unit, by therapy hours per week, and by whether residential accommodation is included. Robotic and technology-assisted therapies are usually charged as add-ons.

The problem

The right dose of therapy, in the six-month window that matters.

Post-stroke rehab is where UK provision is most patchy - brilliant in some ESD areas, non-existent in others. We fix the delay, the dosing and the coordination.

  • The first six months are gold

    Motor and language recovery are steepest in the first six months. Delays in that window cost function that is much harder to recover later.

  • Dose is the whole game

    Hundreds of quality repetitions, several times a week, is what changes trajectory. A weekly 45-minute slot rarely does.

  • One team, one plan

    Neurology, physio, OT, SLT and psychology sitting in one weekly MDT is worth more than four uncoordinated referrals.

When it helps

When intensive neurorehab is the right step.

The situations we see most, plus the one red flag that means hyperacute stroke assessment - not the next therapy slot.

  • After ischaemic stroke

    Task-specific, high-repetition therapy in the first 6 months is where most functional gains happen. Every week of delay costs recovery.

  • After haemorrhagic stroke or SAH

    Slower initial trajectory but similar rehab principles. Blood-pressure control, seizure surveillance and mood management built in.

  • Upper-limb weakness (hemiparesis)

    Constraint-induced movement therapy, robotic assist, FES and mirror therapy - the treatments with the best evidence for arm and hand recovery.

  • Aphasia and communication difficulty

    Intensive SLT (5+ hours per week) improves language recovery well beyond the first year - the classic “too late to help” myth.

  • Swallowing (dysphagia)

    Videofluoroscopy or FEES to characterise the problem, targeted swallow rehab, diet-texture and posture strategies to avoid aspiration pneumonia.

  • Cognitive and visual impairment

    Neuropsychology assessment for attention, memory, executive function; hemianopia and neglect therapy alongside OT.

  • Post-stroke fatigue and mood

    Fatigue and depression are the two biggest barriers to rehab uptake. Both are treatable - screening and short-course therapy from week one.

  • Red flag: new deficit or sudden change

    A new weakness, speech change, severe headache or seizure needs same-day hyperacute-stroke assessment - not the next therapy slot.

Programme options

Setting, dosing and disciplines shaped around the person.

What each option involves - from intensive outpatient blocks and residential inpatient rehab to home-based delivery and technology-assisted therapies.

  • Intensive outpatient (2–4 weeks)

    The workhorse for patients who can travel daily. Three to five hours of therapy per day, MDT-led, structured around functional goals.

  • Residential inpatient block (2–6 weeks)

    For patients who need 24-hour support or live far from a specialist unit. Five to six hours of daily therapy in a residential neurorehab hospital.

  • Home-based intensive rehab

    Neuro-physio, OT and SLT delivered at home for patients who cannot travel. Slightly lower dosing but higher completion in the right cases.

  • Robotic and technology-assisted therapy

    Upper-limb robotics, functional electrical stimulation (FES), virtual-reality treadmill training - add-ons that raise the number of quality repetitions per session.

  • Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT)

    The most-studied upper-limb intervention. Non-affected hand is restrained for hours a day while the affected side is trained intensively.

  • Speech and language therapy programmes

    Intensive aphasia therapy - 5+ hours a week, in blocks - with a specialist SLT. Communication partner training for family included.

  • Neuropsychology and mood therapy

    Cognitive rehab for attention, memory and executive function, plus short-course CBT for post-stroke depression and adjustment.

  • Community handover and long-term follow-up

    Written programme, community neuro-physio, driving assessment, return-to-work planning and neurology follow-up.

Safety and recovery

What to expect through the programme - honestly.

Intensive neurorehab is well tolerated. The things worth planning are dosing, fatigue, mood, driving and return to work.

  • Time is brain - and time is function

    Motor recovery is fastest in the first 3–6 months but continues for years with the right dosing. Delays cost function that is hard to get back.

  • Dosing is a real number, not a slogan

    Meaningful upper-limb change usually needs hundreds of repetitions per session, several times a week. A weekly 45-minute physio slot is rarely enough.

  • Fatigue is the biggest limiter

    Post-stroke fatigue affects most survivors. Pacing, sleep, mood and medication review are as important as the therapy itself.

  • Falls and secondary prevention

    Falls are common in the first year. Blood pressure, statins, antiplatelets or anticoagulation and rhythm monitoring are managed alongside rehab.

  • Swallowing safety

    Aspiration pneumonia is the biggest early complication. Videofluoroscopy or FEES-guided swallow rehab reduces it substantially.

  • Mood, sleep and family strain

    Post-stroke depression affects around a third of survivors and lowers rehab uptake. Screening and short-course CBT from week one.

  • Driving is a specific assessment

    DVLA rules apply after every stroke and TIA - most people cannot drive for at least a month, and safety-critical roles need formal assessment.

  • Return to work is a graded process

    Vocational rehabilitation, phased return, workplace assessments and, where relevant, occupational-health input from the employer.

  • What warrants same-day team or A&E

    A new weakness, speech change, seizure, severe headache or sudden vision loss needs hyperacute stroke assessment - 999, not the next therapy slot.

Reading your rehab notes

Your rehab report in four parts. Read the last one first.

Whichever setting your block was in - outpatient, residential or home - the discharge letter keeps to the same shape.

A UK neurorehab consultant reviewing a patient’s discharge letter

A quiet reminder

Rehab notes are score-heavy - we translate them into what changed.

If you would like us to talk you through the discharge letter and outcome scores before your review, just ask.

  1. 01 Baseline

    Deficits, impairments and function

    The stroke type, imaging summary, and standardised scores at baseline - Fugl-Meyer, Berg balance, aphasia score, cognitive screen, mood.

  2. 02 Programme

    Doses, disciplines and goals

    Hours per week per discipline, functional and SMART goals, and the family training and equipment provided.

  3. 03 Outcomes

    Retesting and progress

    End-of-block scores compared to baseline, videos where relevant, and unmet goals with the next steps to address them.

  4. 04 Impression

    Community plan and follow-up

    Read this first: home programme, community neuro-physio handover, driving status, secondary prevention and neurology follow-up dates.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Neurorehabilitation is usually covered after a qualifying stroke, subject to policy limits on session numbers.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about post-stroke rehab.

Quick answers on timing, NHS ESD, cost, recovery and driving.

  • When should neurorehab start after a stroke?

    As soon as the patient is medically stable - usually within 24–72 hours in hospital, and within 1–2 weeks of discharge for community or private rehab. Motor recovery is fastest in the first 3–6 months, so any delay in that window costs function. Later starts still help, especially for aphasia and cognition, but the trajectory is slower.

  • How intensive does the therapy need to be?

    International guidelines recommend at least 45 minutes per discipline per day, five days a week, for as long as the patient is making functional gains. Intensive private programmes deliver 3–5 hours daily across physio, OT and SLT - considerably more than most NHS post-discharge patients receive.

  • Is post-stroke rehab available on the NHS?

    Yes - hyperacute and acute rehab in-hospital is generally good. But after discharge, Early Supported Discharge (ESD) teams are patchy across the UK: some areas offer 6 weeks of intensive input, others none at all, and community neurorehab often has 2–6 month waits. Private rehab starts sooner and delivers higher doses, especially in the first-six-month window.

  • How much does private stroke neurorehab cost in the UK?

    Roughly £300–£600 per hour for intensive outpatient sessions, £6,000–£12,000 for a two-week outpatient block, and £8,000–£25,000 for a four-week residential inpatient block depending on the unit and complexity. Home-based single visits are £120–£180. Consultant assessment is £350–£600.

  • How long is recovery - when will I feel normal?

    The steepest gains are in the first 3–6 months, but improvement continues for years with the right dosing. Most patients see meaningful progress after 2–4 weeks of intensive rehab, reach a new stable baseline by 6–12 months, and continue to gain with maintenance therapy and community exercise beyond that.

  • Will I be able to drive again?

    For most patients, yes, but the DVLA rules are strict. After a stroke or TIA you cannot drive for at least one month; longer if there are residual deficits. Group 2 (HGV/PSV) drivers face longer restrictions and formal assessment.

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