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SPN FEB 2012 WaterWellness
The hydrotherapy pool at Kingsley School – one of two identical school pools installed by Heritage Pools
www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk Dolphin’s wheelchair – reliable and easy to use
Hydrotherapist Anne Boulton said: “Aquatherapy is now a fundamental part of the provision for recovery and treatment. The important aspect of a pool must be that it not only allows ease of access but has the right equipment in terms of treadmills and exercise bikes which allow us to offer a range of treatments.” The challenge of building a hydrotherapy pool may be daunting but it is one which has been taken up by pool contractors in record numbers. The added complications of power sockets, sufficient concrete for the anchor points, ramps and steps have proved a challenge worth accepting.
SMALL, SHALLOW POOLS ARE OFTEN IDEAL SPATA gold medal winners Heritage Pools are proud of their installations. One was Oakfield School in Nottingham which benefitted from their expertise with refurbishment which brought tired facilities up-to-date.
As the pool needed to serve both able and less able bodied children, it was a design of 15 metres by 5 metres with different areas of depth and hoists.
“This pool replaced an existing, tired facility with superbly updated technology and a pool that could handle different ages and abilities,” said Brian Andrews, Managing Director of Heritage Pools. Now children are reaping the benefits of this investment to enjoy a pool that is fit for years to come.
Last year Heritage Pools also completed a new addition to the recently launched Bramshott Retirement Village in Liphook.
“Aquatherapy is now a fundamental part of the provision for recovery and treatment”
The pool (7.25 metres by 3.5 metres) was installed as part of the communal amenities, which include a fitness room, social area, gardens and the pool as a social hub for residents. Brian Andrews said: “The new pool has been designed as both a relaxation and swimming pool, with two variable resistance swim jets to suit all abilities. We created the pool to have a depth of just 1.2 metres to ensure that all residents felt comfortable using it, plus we installed a removable hoist for less mobile residents.”
Heritage Pools were also asked to install two hydrotherapy pools as part of the Harrow PFI project, at Woodlands School, a non-selective state community school serving disabled pupils aged 3-12, and Kingsley School, a mixed state special school for pupils aged 12-19. Both pools for the Harrow project were made to exactly the same specification measuring 5.625 metres by 4 metres with a depth of 1200mm. The pools were kept fairly small so that the children are never too far from the specially designed perimeter handrails and the depth is also reasonably shallow to increase safety and help improve their confidence in the water. Both pools feature a shallow freeboard design, walk-in steps, a disabled access hoist and sensory underwater lighting to help create a safe and enjoyable bathing experience for special needs children.
Heritage works with companies that supply portable hoists for beds and chairs etc but can also build bespoke hoists, ramps and rails.
They are working with a client in 2012 who has requested that Heatsavr liquid be used in the pool and are therefore designing a pool and filtration unit that works with this. Heatsavr liquid increases the surface tension and helps retain heat.
END USERS ARE THE KEY TO CORRECT HOIST SELECTION
When purchasing a pool lift the most important consideration is the need of the end users and their carers. Ease of use and comfort are of paramount importance to heighten the enjoyment that the freedom of water brings. Many factors contribute to a pool’s suitability for a lift installation. If the owners of the pool have inherited it, do they know what lies beneath the pool deck? Is there a large drop from the pool side to the water or is the pool an above-ground style?
Is the lift specifically for one person or group of people or is the requirement to provide a lift that is suitable for as many people as possible? The person is hoisted into the water by means of a spreader bar and sling arrangement or by sitting in a chair.
Amongst other choices there are fixed and portable swimming pool lifts and manual and battery powered lifts. If the site for the installation does not possess the large amount of concrete necessary to enable the installation required for the socket to be sunk then the choice of a battery power lift may be an alternative.
This new Manchester hydrotherapy pool serves a wide community and number of patients
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