Sponsored by
Bretton: Care home’s therapy pool ‘not a replacement’
CAMPAIGNERS lobbying for funding for the city’s hydrotherapy pool have said that one due to open at a new £10 million care home will not be a replacement.
Eagle Wood Neurological Care Campus, in Bretton Way, Peterborough, will open in May to give round-the-clock support for people with neurological conditions.
As well as the pool, the 107-bedroom PJ Care home will have physiotherapy and occupational therapists available to city people with GP referrals, as well as the home’s residents.
There is already a hydrotherapy pool in Peterborough, at the St George’s Centre, in Lawn Avenue, Dogsthorpe, but it is suffering funding difficulties.
The concern has been so great that Peterborough Local Involvement Network (LINk) persuaded city councillors to donate £8,650 from their Community Leadership Fund to the pool between April and December 2011.
The group has welcomed news of the new pool opening at the care home but says it will not be a replacement for St George’s.
Angela Burrows, LINk community development officer, said: “It is a really good idea but not enough for the needs of the city. We still need the St George’s pool.
“We knew a long time ago that PJ Care said they could provide a hydrotherapy pool but it doesn’t mean ours is not needed.
“There would be too many people for them to help along with their own residents, who will all need to use the pool themselves.
“If you look at PJ Care homes that already have hydrotherapy pools, most of their patients use it on a regular basis.
“I don’t think it is going to be big enough for the wider community and those referred through the NHS. Also, access to Dogsthorpe is much better.”
St George’s hydrotherapy pool can take eight people at a time, who each stay in the water for 30 to 40 minutes.
The Eagle Wood pool will take just two at a time.
Paul Moran, PJ Care’s chief executive, said: “It is not a big pool and it is primarily for our residents, who will all have neurological problems.
“But we expect some usage through medical referrals, although we have not decided the specifics, such as how much it will cost.
“We are very excited to be opening and have already had people enquiring about our services.”
For more details visit www.pjcare.co.uk
£10m home is more than a pool
THE hydrotherapy pool is just one of a number of exciting features at the new Eagle Wood care home in Bretton.
The 107-bed facility is run by JP Care Ltd, which provides specialist care for people with illnesses such as Parkinson’s Disease and Huntingdon’s diesease.
It has four residential quarters based around a therapy centre that will offer physiotherapy and occupational therapy as well as hydrotherapy. There is even a roof garden and gym and all facilities will be also open to the public.
What do you think?
Contact our news team by email news@peterboroughtoday.co.uk, telephone 01733 588719, on Twitter - @peterboroughet or use our Have Your Say form
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Peterborough
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.