Hobbs Rehabilitation SouthWest Our Centre In Somerset		Photograph kindly supplied by Jason Bryant.
Opened 1st October 2009, Hobbs Rehabilitation is extremely proud to announce their centre in Somerset.

Visit The Centre

You are invited to view our centre. Please contact us on (01749) 860488 or by .

Address

Unit 22, Evercreech Junction Business Park, Nr Shepton Mallet, Somerset BA4 6NA

Directions

A371 : 2 miles from Castle Cary. Turn left just after the Natterjack pub.
A371 : 3 miles from Shepton Mallet. Turn right just before Natterjack pub.

Visit The Centre

Article by F Weelan, Journal – 3rd July 2009

Evercreech parish councillors have pledged their support for a state-of-the-art physiotherapy and occupational therapy rehabilitation centre serving patients across the region.

The scheme is the brainchild of 45-year-old Ditcheat property developer David Million, who was struck down by a blood clot on the brain which caused a massive stroke last October while he was in Cyprus.

Paralysed down his right side, he was flown home to begin the long haul to recovery. Eight months on and he is making giant steps forward – thanks to the intensive physiotherapy he receives regularly from Hampshire Hobbs Rehabilitation.

Since going up for regular treatment each week to their base near Winchester his progress has been remarkable.

He now wants to fund a centre for them to run at Evercreech to benefit people suffering from strokes, head and spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and other conditions.

"I am not knocking the NHS service but the facts are that, in Somerset, 6,000 patients can get only half an hour a week of physiotherapy,"  said Mr Million.

"When you have a stroke you stay in hospital for maybe six to seven weeks and get two to three hours of physio a day but when you leave you get only 30 minutes a week.

"The nearest centres to here are Williton and Weston-super-Mare, which are a long way when you are pretty immobile anyway."

"It takes half an hour of physio just to get my arm loose. At Winchester I can get eight hours a week with two people working on me at once and the improvements for me have been amazing."

Mr Million invited Hobbs directors Helen Hobbs and Nicky Ellis, both trained specialists, to open a centre here which he will fund.

The chosen site is space at the Evercreech Junction industrial estate, run by the Nash family. Val Nash has suffered from Parkinson’s disease for 15 years and is confined to a wheelchair. The family have already got a hydrotherapy pool equipped with hoists right next to the offices, which have disabled access and a disabled lift.

The plans also include a gym, an occupational therapy room, a speech and language therapy room and a main treatment room.

Mr Million said: "We want to work with the NHS and PCTs and they are keen to get involved, too."

"We are trying to bring help and hope to everyone in Somerset."

The planning application to change the use of the offices to a rehabilitation centre met with Evercreech Parish Council’s blessing last week.

Parish council chairman Colin Davis said councillors also welcomed the fact the centre would create jobs.

Final approval of the scheme rests with Mendip District Council.