Specialist unit at Leamington hospital is in the country’s top ten

The hospital’s neuro rehabilitation service has been classed as a ‘level one’ service by the Government, recognising that the unit provides care to patients with highly complex rehabilitation needs that are beyond the scope of their local and district specialist services.

The unit, which was set up around 20 years ago, will retain its level one rating for six months, after which another assessment will take place.

South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, had spent £500,000 on taking on extra staff in efforts to gain the rating as part of an improvement plan. Future phases include extending the service to enable patients to be supported at home and expanding the unit for in-patients.

Sue Bleasdale¸ acting general manager for acquired brain injury services, said: “We are all thrilled at receiving our level one status and are already working as a team to build on our success to make sure in six months time, we remain one of the leading complex rehabilitation centres across the country.

“We want to not only maintain the high quality of care we give, but also build on it for the future.”

Glen Burley, trust chief executive, said: “We are delighted - it really is down to a fantastic team who work hard every day to provide excellent care to this group of patients.”