Water safety checks stall new NHS rehab facility

The opening the centre, which will help people recover from serious injuries and illnesses, was expected to open on 11 November

The opening of a new NHS rehabilitation centre has been delayed after the facility failed water quality checks.

The £105m National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) at Stanford Hall in Nottinghamshire was due to welcome its first 18 patients on 11 November.

However, Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust, which runs the site, said final water testing was ongoing.

The trust said patients would continue to be treated at a specialist neurological unit based at City Hospital in Nottingham.

'Disappointed'

The facility, near Loughborough, was created to help people recover from serious injuries and illnesses and has been years in the making.

NUH chief executive Anthony May said the NRC was unable to accept patients despite "extensive preparations".

He added: "This is due to ongoing final testing of the water system, which has not yet met our rigorous safety and quality standards for the patients we will be caring for.

"Our building contractors, Integrated Health Projects, are working to resolve this as quickly as possible, but there will be a slight delay to welcoming our first patients.

"We are disappointed by this short delay, but we remain committed to delivering life-changing rehabilitation care for patients in the East Midlands and beyond."

Drinking water is now available at the site and it has working toilets.

After the first 18 patients move into the facility, additional patients from across the East Midlands are expected weekly until all 70 beds are filled.