Petition organiser Mark Adshead describe the hydrotherapy pool at a North London hospital as “not at a facility, but a lifeline”. However, the board has recently announced that the pool is set to close, in what Mark has called “an act of cruelty”.
Northwick Park Hospital, located on Watford Rad on the border of Brent and Harrow, has revealed plans to permanently close its on-site hydrotherapy pool, a facility seen as vital for people with chronic pain and discomfort across London for the past 40 years.
Mark explains that its closure could have “severe consequences” for those that use it as it will take away “the only method of physical relief” many patients can tolerate. London North West University Hospital, the Trust in charge of Northwick Park, said the new NHS plan makes “a clear distinction” between facilities that should be provided in acute hospitals with those “best provided by community services”.
The pool, which is expected to close at the end of August, is primarily used by patients with arthritis, various musculoskeletal problems, and those recovering from orthopaedic surgery. Also known as aquatic therapy, the combination of warm water, buoyancy, and massage jets can be used to help reduce pain, improve muscle relaxation, increase range of motion, and strengthen muscles.
Mark has started a petition calling on the Trust to reconsider the decision. The petition, which has already been signed by more than 1,700 people (accurate at the time of writing), points to the pool being the “only one of its kind within miles” and “irreplaceable” to those with severe pain.
The petition states: “It’s one of the very few forms of exercise that alleviates our suffering. Unfortunately, we are facing the closure of this essential service, an act of cruelty by the hospital board that could have severe consequences for our community.
“The impending closure could also mean that patients would have to endure increased pain and reduced mobility, as they no longer have access to the specialized care provided by hydrotherapy. This decision could lead to deteriorating mental and physical health outcomes for many individuals.”
Service ‘isn’t available anywhere else in area’
As well as providing therapeutic relief, Mark describes the pool as a “community hub”, where, for many patients, it is the sole opportunity for them to “connect with others who understand their struggles”. He claims the closure risks heightening the isolation felt by many people with chronic illnesses.
Following the creation of the petition, other users took to neighbourhood app NextDoor to respond to the “horrendous” news. One said they had been “depending upon” the pool every week for any years, whilst another claimed it was “the only relief” they get from painful joints and isn’t available anywhere else in the area.
A spokesperson for the LNWUH NHS Trust told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “While we understand that the pool is a popular resource for a small number of patients, it is mostly used by private users. Hydrotherapy is not usually provided in acute hospitals, and the new NHS 10-year plan makes a clear distinction between services that should be provided in acute hospitals and those best provided by community services.
“Our hospital resources must therefore be focused on faster diagnosis, expanding surgical and outpatient services, and providing effective ward care so patients can be discharged promptly and treated equitably.”
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