Moved and improved: Lincoln hospital rehab gym opens as part of £900k expansion

Patients recovering from brain injuries in hospital can now make use of a newly revamped rehabilitation gym to help get them back on the road to recovery.

The refurb is part of a major £900,000 expansion of United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust’s (ULHT) Ashby ward at Lincoln County Hospital, which is being increased from 12 to 18 beds.

The gym offers a range of rehabilitation equipment for patients to utilise, and in addition to exercise bikes, walking frames, parallel bars and arm supports also includes a multi-directional ceiling-mounted tracking hoist, which fully supports patients who are learning to walk again.

The new gym is open seven-days-a-week

Sue Williams, Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist on Ashby ward said even more patients will now be able to make use of the new facilities.

She said: “We support patients who have suffered brain injuries or who have other complex neurological disorders, to help them work towards gaining independence.

“As part of the ongoing expansion of Ashby ward, we’ve relocated the gym which is now open seven-days-a-week for supported therapy sessions for patients.

Keith Jones has used the new gym and says it has helped build his confidence

“We have a range of therapy equipment, which help patients through supported standing to aid their balance and we also have mobile arm supports for upper limb rehabilitation and arm strengthening.

“In addition, our new ‘Likorail’ hoist means patients are no longer restricted to just using the handrails – they can now walk around the entire room fully supported.”

Clinical Lead for Therapies and Rehabilitation at ULHT, Anita Cooper added: “We have moved the gym and therapy room into the centre of the unit and the additional beds will mean we can get patients in sooner and start their rehabilitation earlier than ever before.”