The pioneering Gateway project at Middlehaven welcomed its first clients this week.
The innovative scheme, the first of its kind developed by Keiro, is designed to support people with traumatic and long-term neurological conditions to regain their independence.
The new building is located at the heart of a major new redevelopment in the centre of Middlesbrough and brings with it wider health and wellbeing opportunities for the local community as well as promising to set new standards of care for people with spinal or brain injuries, neurological conditions and other complex needs.
For people who are going through rehabilitation for a brain injury, serious stroke or a spinal injury, the traditional kind of environment people have experienced has been very clinical. That is very different from the kind of environment we are moving into here
The Gateway, designed by P+HS Architects, is a contemporary landmark building accommodating a range of neuro-rehabilitation services and 40 inpatient bedrooms across six floors. The ground floor includes a specialist health and wellbeing hub, with facilities such as indoor hydrotherapy pool, gym, and therapy rooms designed to be accessed by the public, carers and members’ families, as well as charities working with people with neurological conditions.
A light, bright atrium at the entrance includes a welcoming reception, café and generous informal seating area.
In addition to the main rehab building, the development includes transitional housing developed by Erimus, providing step-forward accommodation for clients returning to independent living. Comprising a mix of two-bed apartments and bungalows as well as three-bed houses of contemporary design, the residences are available to clients and their families wishing for full independent living with access to the services and facilities on offer from the rest of the development.
Alistair McDonald, Keiro’s business relationship director, said: “For people who are going through rehabilitation for a brain injury, serious stroke or a spinal injury, the traditional kind of environment people have experienced has been very clinical. That is very different from the kind of environment we are moving into here.
“The Gateway provides a social context for people’s rehabilitation. We need to work with therapists on people’s independence and functional capacity, but that isn’t all the Keiro model is about. We want people to move into a home and family life and have the confidence to socialise, go back to college and back into employment.”
With client experience at the centre of the design development, The Gateway provides an exemplar facility which offers highly specialised services and support for patients, carers and families, while welcoming and integrating with the wider community.
