State-of-the-art new NHS lab to help support people with conditions like CP

A new "gait lab" has opened at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle

Sam Volpe Health Reporter Chronicle Live

A new "state-of-the-art" service for children and adults has opened at the Freeman Hospital. The "gait lab" will support those with cerebral palsy, spina bifida and a range of neurological conditions affecting movement.

It will also help patients experiencing foot pressure problems, which can be linked to diabetes. It is the first of its kind in the North East and will provide support that would otherwise have seen NHS patients needing to travel to either Sheffield or Edinburgh.

The lab comes as the service expands in the region - a previous facility was available at the Centre for Ageing and Vitality on Westgate Road, but this has been demolished. The technology available in the new lab is used by professionals - who could be doctors, physios or even podiatrists - to plan treatment and surgery.

The idea is to improve patients' quality of life. One of only 16 formally accredited labs in the UK and Ireland, the service is now expected to take on more than 200 assessments each year.

Jane Gilman, advanced physiotherapist and gait lab lead, said: “Our new lab represents a significant improvement in our measurement capabilities and offers a fantastic regional facility, housing the latest equipment and technology.

“The demolition of the previous facility at the Centre for Ageing and Vitality called for a new and improved lab, and this is an excellent resource for patients from across the whole region. Without it, people would have to travel much further afield, as the nearest appropriate alternatives are in Edinburgh or Sheffield."