Figures show collapse in hydrotherapy care in Bedford since NHS Pool Closure

Data shows that just 13 people attended hydrotherapy sessions run by Bedford Hospital between September and December last year, these sessions now take place weekly at a hydrotherapy pool at the Anjulita Court care home in Woodlands Park, following the decision to close the pool at Gilbert Hitchcock House on cost grounds.

By comparison, there were 755 users of hydrotherapy sessions over two years when the Gilbert Hitchcock House pool was operational.

The figures were revealed in a Bedfordshire Clinical Commissioning report to Bedford Borough Council‘s Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee this week, where Liberal Democrat councillors took issue with the Commissioners’ extraordinary claim that the change has been ‘positive’.

Bedford Borough Liberal Democrat Health spokesperson cllr Dean Crofts said: “These figures confirm our worst fears about the closure of the hydrotherapy pool.

"This is a shocking collapse in the number of patients benefiting from hydrotherapy, and a major reduction of an important service.

“To run group sessions at just one site after telling the public that there would be five or six is absolutely scandalous.

"For the Commissioners to claim that this has been a positive change is ludicrous and suggests a worrying attitude towards a service which is valued highly by hundreds of local patients.”

Despite patients’ opposition to the pool closure, Bedfordshire CCG went ahead with the severe reduction in the provision of the hydrotherapy service.

With only one alternative facility in use with limited capacity, it is feared that the fall in patients receiving hydrotherapy care will continue as clinicians make prescribing decisions accordingly.

A spokesperson for Bedfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group said: "Bedfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group and Bedford Hospital Trust continue to review demand for hydrotherapy treatment.

"Following the decision to provide the service from Anjulita Court, the Trust are working to increase the number of sessions available.

"This will ensure that those patients who have been assessed to require hydrotherapy as part of their treatment are able to access the six sessions provided by the NHS.

"Patient feedback of the hydrotherapy services delivered from Anjulita Court have been positive and Bedfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group and Bedford Hospital Trust continue to monitor the service to ensure that patients are receiving the best outcomes from their treatment."