To whom it may concern.



It is with regret that the Trust has come to the decision to cease public use of the hydrotherapy pool and the sports hall facilities located in the North West Regional Spinal Injuries Centre at Southport and Formby District General Hospital. Public users are any groups who hire the facilities and individuals who pay to use them. This does not include staff users or spinally injured service users in the community who remain lifelong patients of the centre.

Two reasons have influenced the Trust in making this decision. Firstly, income we derive from the service is outstripped by the cost of providing it at a time when the Trust faces an on-going financial challenge. More pertinently, however, we must ensure the privacy and dignity of our patients and who are the primary users of this facility.

I know some of you have used the centre for many years and will find this news very disappointing. I also understand it may take time to find a new venue, so I want to be flexible in continuing to accommodate your needs while you make new arrangements. However, I would request these arrangements are in place by 30th November 2018, after which time our facilities will no longer be available to members of the public.

I am happy to meet with individuals or groups to answer your questions and agree a way forward.

Presumably the upkeep of the pool and the sports hall are covered by the Spinal Unit budget, so whether anyone else uses the pool or not they still have to keep the place running. My wife attends a hydrotherapy session to help her with mobility issues from her Parkinsons disease for which she is charged. This charge should be able to fund the instructor so where is the problem?

Please.

Don’t forget, every public user of the facilities also has to pay to park.

This is undoubtedly sad. A swimming pool is a great place which helps you to keep fit, healthy, and relaxed. Now I have to replace it somehow. I think that provacan cbd oil will provide me with relaxation. But to keep fit I think I should start going to the gym.