The purpose built hospital, which opened its doors to patients this week, will provide a local and national service for men and women who have suffered changes in their behaviour as a result of an acquired brain injury.
The service will provide a full neurobehavioural rehabilitation programme, a learning process that re-equips the person, as far as possible, with functional skills, cognitive abilities and social behaviours lost through acquired brain injury.
The hospital is led by hospital director, Andy Birkett, and Professor Nick Alderman. Both have extensive experience in neurobehavioral rehabilitation and Professor Alderman, an internationally recognised expert in the field of Neurobehavioural Rehabilitation, is the clinical director for the service and heads up the “transdisciplinary team” (TDT).
The TDT consists of neurobehavioral specialists including psychologists, nurses, neuropsychiatrists, occupational therapists, physiotherapist, speech and language therapists, dieticians, social workers and rehabilitation assistants.
Andy Birkett, said: “This is a much-needed service for people who find they have been left with unwanted behaviours and complex needs and can’t move on in life.”
The building is a spacious, bright and a modern environment with 18 individual en-suite bedrooms and two self-contained flats built around two enclosed courtyards. It is set in extensive gardens and has dedicated therapy and communal spaces, making it ideal for delivering Neurobehavioural Rehabilitation programmes and therapies.
Joy Chamberlain, CEO at Elysium Healthcare, said: “We had been searching for the perfect site for this service for a number of years. I am delighted that the refurbishment is complete and that we have recruited a first-class clinical team led by Professor Nick Alderman to deliver this important service.”
Early links have been made with Headway Swindon and Anna Cole, the organisation’s CEO, said: “We are delighted that The Avalon Centre is opening its doors to help people who have acquired a brain injury. We see just how devastating and lifelong the effects of a brain injury can be, so to have this kind of facility in the local area to support patients that have suffered from neurological trauma is just brilliant.”
Elysium Healthcare was launched in November 2016 and has over 70 sites. The group provides specialist learning disability services, mental health services, neurological services and services for children and young people across England and Wales. The company is backed by BC Partners.
