Wishing Well Waters Hydrotherapy Resource Project: Feasibility
Study-Phase 1
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Working
To Keep Your Head Above Water
The
Feasibility Study - Phase 1
Funding for the initial Feasibility Study for Wishing
Well Waters was provided by Unltd, a Millennium Awards
Trust.
The
successful completion of Phase 1
This highlighted the necessity for such a project. Sustainability
was explored, and this has led to the inclusion of another
'therapy' room to offset costs. Other important aspects
of the Wishing Well Waters project are a rest and refreshment
area which aims to encourage social interaction (thereby
helping to counter the isolation factor experienced by
many less abled individuals and their carers).
Similarly, a wheelchair-accessible therapeutic garden
would help to maximise the feeling of well-being when
visiting Wishing Well Waters for hydrotherapy.
What
evidence is there that such a project is needed?
Through
our work we found that there is no other facility in
Gwynedd (or Wales and nothing similar in England) that
is able to offer the same proposed service. Extensive
research, involving Health, Social Care Organisations
and the Public have been undertaken with the aid of
many groups including Mantell Gwynedd, Disability Wales
and Arthritis Wales. We found that there are over 3000
registered disabled people living in Gwynedd. Many other
people have serious conditions such as acute back pain,
a problem that causes the loss of many working days.
A survey of Primary Care Services was carried out and
one GP stated that 50% of his client base would benefit
from hydrotherapy. Many groups and individuals have
been identified as potential users of the facility and
many responded to a questionnaire distributed to obtain
evidence of their need. Social Services have provided
information and the project has the support of the North
Wales NHS Trust.
Hydro Pools at hospitals are few in number and service
people on a 6 week referral system. Once out of the
system, people with long term maintenance problems,
for example those with MS are unable to access suitable
therapeutic water treatment facilities. Hydrotherapy
helps people through the combination of immersion and
exercise in warm water, increased buoyancy, ease of
movement and the reduced effects of gravity. All these
elements play a vital role in lessening their pain,
relieving tension, increasing their confidence, increasing
their mobility and enhancing their feeling of well being.Spa's,
leisure pools and health clubs are unsuitable for a
large percentage of the community who are less-abled
(physically or mentally) because they are either too
cold, inaccessible, fail to provide treatment, have
limited admission or are dangerous due to the amount
of people present or lack of appropriately trained staff.
How
will our project meet the identified need?
Wishing
Well Waters will provide a resource where people can
receive appropriate hydrotherapy treatment in a suitable
user friendly warm exercise pool, with professionally
trained staff on hand. People will be able to take their
exercise/treatment in pleasant surroundings and find
an opportunity to socialise with others. Click
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