Due to open in Summer 2027, the new 52-bed hospital will set a new benchmark in specialist spinal and neurological rehabilitation for patients with a spinal or neurological injury. Located next to Stoke Mandeville’s National Spinal Injuries Centre, the facility will treat approximately 250 patients a year. The development – on an existing site at Stoke Mandeville Stadium – represents a major milestone for complex care provider Active Care Group and charity partner WheelPower.
The new hospital will provide:
- State-of-the-art rehabilitation environments designed for spinal and neurological recovery, including robotic gait and arm training, virtual-reality balance systems, augmented-reality therapy and neuromuscular stimulation.
- High-quality inpatient and day therapy areas designed to support intensive, multidisciplinary rehabilitation.
- Two technology-enabled, AI-integrated trial and step-down flats, where patients can safely practice daily activities before returning home.
- A dedicated ventilated high-dependency unit (HDU) to support patients with complex respiratory and medical needs.
- A specialist hydrotherapy pool designed to support accessible, patient-centred rehabilitation for patients with spinal injuries and clients with disabilities.
- Purpose-built communal and therapeutic spaces designed to enhance recovery, participation and patient experience, including a cinema room, outdoor wellbeing spaces, and other areas that support rehabilitation beyond the clinical setting.
- Family accommodation to support recovery, participation, and reintegration.
- A purpose-built AI learning, education and conference hub aimed at advancing research, innovation, and quality in rehabilitation treatment and care.
Active Care Group CEO Keith Browner said: “The new Active Neuro Stoke Mandeville Private Rehabilitation Hospital is a landmark investment in the future of specialist spinal and neurological rehabilitation. It will offer a gold standard in rehabilitation care, bringing together world-class specialists and facilities with advanced rehabilitation technologies and techniques that are rarely available together in one rehabilitation setting.
“This investment reflects our long-term commitment to transforming outcomes for people recovering from life-changing injuries, ensuring they can access the very best rehabilitation care to make the fullest possible recovery.”
Rob Wilson, Chairman of WheelPower, said: “I am delighted that we are able to bring rehabilitation services back to our site. It is something that we set out in our five-year strategic plan as it will make such a difference – particularly as we know that a spinal cord injury can have such a profound impact on every part of a person’s life, affecting mobility, independence, confidence, and overall quality of life. It was also part of the original vision of our founder, Sir Ludwig Guttmann.”