A NEW centre has opened at a Chandler’s Ford hospital to offer more services to patients under one roof.

The new Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Centre of Excellence, known as Excel, is claimed to be the first place in the South of England where treatment and rehabilitation are offered in one place, at the Nuffield Health Wessex Hospital.

Hand, wrist and elbow specialist, Professor David Warwick, officially opened the site which was developed as part of the hospital’s £8 million refurbishment programme.

He said: “When patients are suffering with an injury, no matter how minor, it can be a stressful time. Excel will be the only centre south of London with these facilities which can look after its patients from the time they walk through the door until they’re completely recovered. The centre is welcoming and friendly, putting patients at ease and making their experience a pleasant one.”

Over 30 consultants have been employed at the centre and state-of-the-art technology, such as MRI and CT scanners and a hydrotherapy pool, has been installed.

Wessex Hospital director, Peter Howgrave-Graham, said: “We are delighted with the new centre and the wide ranging facilities that we have here. There are many people who carry on with an injury, working on through the pain when a simple solution can remedy it. “By offering these complimentary one-to-one discussions patients will receive the best possible advice which will help them identify the next steps towards the road to recovery.”