A new private rehabilitation hospital planned for Stoke Mandeville, England, will bring robotic gait training, virtual and augmented reality therapy and AI-enabled recovery facilities together under one roof, in a setup its backers say is rarely found in a single rehabilitation setting.
Complex care provider Active Care Group and charity partner WheelPower have announced an agreement to develop the new Active Neuro Stoke Mandeville Private Rehabilitation Hospital, a significant investment in the future of specialist spinal and neuro-rehab.
The 52-bed facility will be built on an existing site at Stoke Mandeville Stadium, which is owned by the charity, next to the National Spinal Injuries Centre. It is expected to treat approximately 250 patients a year.
The clinical model is built around advanced rehabilitation technology.
Patients will have access to state-of-the-art environments designed for spinal and neurological recovery, including robotic gait and arm training, virtual-reality balance systems, augmented-reality therapy and neuromuscular stimulation.
The hospital will also feature two technology-enabled, AI-integrated trial and step-down flats, where patients can safely practice daily activities before returning home.
These are intended to bridge the gap between the ward and independent living, letting people rehearse everyday tasks in a supported environment.
Keith Browner, CEO of Active Care Group, said: “The new Active Neuro Stoke Mandeville Private Rehabilitation Hospital is a landmark investment in the future of specialist spinal and neurological rehabilitation.
“It will offer a gold standard in rehabilitation care, bringing together world-class specialists and facilities with advanced rehabilitation technologies and techniques that are rarely available together in one rehabilitation setting.
“This investment reflects our long-term commitment to transforming outcomes for people recovering from life-changing injuries, ensuring they can access the very best rehabilitation care to make the fullest possible recovery.
“We are proud to be working with WheelPower at Stoke Mandeville, and contributing to the area’s proud heritage in rehabilitation.”
Alongside the digital and robotic tools, the site will include a dedicated ventilated high-dependency unit for patients with complex respiratory and medical needs, and a specialist hydrotherapy pool designed to support accessible, patient-centred rehabilitation for patients with spinal injuries and clients with disabilities.
Innovation will extend beyond direct patient care.
The development includes a purpose-built AI learning, education and conference hub aimed at advancing research, innovation and quality in rehabilitation treatment and care, positioning the hospital as a base for developing new approaches as well as delivering them.
The hospital is being designed around the needs of patients and families, with specialist clinical, therapeutic and communal spaces that support rehabilitation at every stage of recovery.
That includes high-quality inpatient and day therapy areas for intensive, multidisciplinary work, purpose-built communal and therapeutic spaces such as a cinema room and outdoor wellbeing areas, and family accommodation to support recovery, participation and reintegration.
By combining expert multidisciplinary care, cutting-edge rehabilitation technology and high-quality therapeutic spaces, the hospital is intended to set a new benchmark for patient experience, recovery and long-term outcomes.
Its backers describe the ambition as a best-in-class specialist rehabilitation environment at one of the UK’s most significant locations for spinal injury care, disability sport and rehabilitation.
The project is also expected to create numerous skilled jobs across clinical, therapy, nursing, operational and support roles, bringing investment into the local community and helping to grow specialist rehabilitation capability in the UK.
More than 105,000 people in the UK are living with a spinal cord injury, with around 4,700 people injured or diagnosed each year.
For many, specialist rehabilitation is a critical part of rebuilding their lives after injury, helping them adapt, recover and regain as much independence as possible.
Rob Wilson, chairman of WheelPower, said: “I am delighted that we are able to bring rehabilitation services back to our site. It is something that we set out in our five-year strategic plan as it will make such a difference, particularly as we know that a spinal cord injury can have such a profound impact on every part of a person’s life, affecting mobility, independence, confidence and overall quality of life. It was also part of the original vision of our founder, Sir Ludwig Guttmann.
“Rehabilitation services, coupled with an established route into sport, can make a profound difference to the thousands of people each year who experience life-changing spinal injuries and need access to specialist, ongoing services to help them recover and rebuild their lives.
“We will now have all these important services on one site.
“WheelPower is proud to facilitate and support the development of this new hospital in Stoke Mandeville, helping more people access the treatment, rehabilitation and the support they need to achieve the fullest possible recovery and to regain their independence.”
