The Physiotherapy department at the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle is moving to The Sands Centre.

From Monday 4 December 2017 the musculoskeletal (MSK) outpatient physiotherapy appointments that would have been held at the Cumberland Infirmary will now be held in The Sands Centre in Carlisle.

Patients will receive the same level of service but from the new location which will offer more space and greater convenience. The move is one of the first steps towards ambitious goals of offering more services in the community, those which don’t need to be in an acute hospital environment.

The move also means there are closer links with The Sands Centre in the hope people will continue their own physio and exercise programmes once they have been discharged from the service, further improving the health of people in Cumbria.

Helen McGahon, head of physiotherapy at North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “This move is fantastic news for our patients. It means they’ll receive the same excellent treatment they’re used to in a venue where they can access exercise and leisure services to support their recovery. We also want our patients to undertake exercise and keep up their physio once they have finished their treatment with us and this move will really help to encourage them.”

Carlisle City Cllr Anne Quilter, Portfolio holder for Culture, Heritage and Leisure, added: “As a Healthy City we are constantly looking for new ways to improve access to health treatment and the delivery of high quality leisure opportunities. The move to The Sands Centre is a great example of partnership working between the City Council, NHS and GLL. It will join together services at a location that provides wider access to ongoing services to improve health and wellbeing.”

Tom Rice, Partnership Manager for Greenwich Leisure Ltd in Carlisle who operate The Sands Centre under the Better brand said: “We’re delighted to welcome the Physiotherapy department of the Cumberland Infirmary to The Sands Centre. There is a great synergy between health and community leisure facilities so we’re confident that this new partnership can make a positive impact to the people of Carlisle. Our aim is to get more people more active, more often and we hope to be able to support many new clients throughout their rehabilitation and beyond to help them develop and maintain healthy lifestyles.”