Long-awaited hydrotherapy pool opens for public use in Castleton

The long-awaited ‘HydRose’ hydrotherapy pool at Castleton Health and Leisure Centre is now open for public use – with funded sessions available for those with Parkinson’s.

HydRose is the legacy of the late Rose Richardson, who kickstarted fundraising efforts with her husband, Dave, in 2016.

Rose, who sadly died in 2021, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in the late 1990s and advised to visit a hydrotherapy pool to help manage her pain as her condition worsened.

Hydrotherapy pools are particularly helpful for treating Parkinson's symptoms because the temperature is higher than a normal swimming pool. This helps muscles to relax, easing joints, reducing pain, and making gentle exercise much easier as well as helping to improve balance, co-ordination and walking technique.

Unfortunately, the family didn’t have access to facilities locally, and the Richardsons began fundraising to bring the much-needed facility to their doorstep. Their ‘Hydro16’ campaign was awarded a £100,000 grant from Viridor Limited just six weeks before Rose passed away.

 

 

Dave was also named the 2022 Man of Rochdale for his fundraising efforts, from comedy nights and concerts, to receiving donations from local businesses and sports groups, dedicating his win entirely to Rose.
 

Read more: Man of Rochdale 2022: Dave RichardsonPublished: 25 November 2022

Now after raising £140,000 over the last eight years, the hydrotherapy pool has become a reality, opening its doors at Castleton Health and Leisure Centre in April 2024.

And thanks to funding from Parkinson’s UK, people with Parkinson’s in the local area will also benefit from receiving five hydrotherapy sessions (with staff assistance), although spaces are limited.

HydRose is available for people with all kinds of neurological and physical issues to use, something which Dave was keen on. He told our Real Rochdale magazine in 2023 that he didn’t want anyone to miss out on the benefits of hydrotherapy.
 

Rose was diagnosed with Parkinson’s when she was in her 40s and joined the local Parkinson’s Society group – though Dave tells us Rose didn’t want to go at first.

“There wasn’t a dedicated Parkinson’s nurse then,” Dave explains. “It was going to cost £40,000 to fund one for two years, so we met them in the middle and raised money for one.”

As Rose’s condition became worse, she applied to use the hydrotherapy pool at Salford Royal Hospital, where she was a patient. However, because she lived in Rochdale, she was not eligible to use it.

An alternative, slightly closer to home, unfortunately proved to be unsuitable.

The only solution was to fund their own in their home borough and the ‘Hydro16’ campaign was born in 2016.

Rose and Dave were given a glimmer of hope when Castleton ward councillor, Billy Sheerin, said he would try and help them bring a hydrotherapy pool to the borough.

“Billy showed Nick Crewe – who bought Castleton baths – the plans we’d made up, and he gave them to the builder. He showed me around the rooms at the baths, gave me the biggest hug, shook my hand and said, ‘get on with it!’” Dave recalls.

Dave said: “I’m so pleased that the pool is now open and I’ve seen a massive difference in people from the Parkinsons group who have been for a few sessions.

“It’s quite overwhelming actually what an impact it is already having on people’s lives and wellbeing.”

 

 

Vincent Swift was the first client who suffers with Parkinson’s to use the pool. His carer Joe said: “Since Vincent started to use the Hydrotherapy Spa Pool, he's slowly seen the benefits of using the facility. His mobility has improved marginally, there's also been a slight reduction with the Dyskinesia and Vincent's posture has improved slightly - also, Vincent's seen a reduction in knee pain since starting the sessions. We enjoy meeting with the staff too, who always make us feel welcome and Jill does a great job helping Vincent with the pool-exercises.”

Jill Turner, facility manager at the pool who is overseeing the pool and assisting in the water with the Parkinson’s patients said: “I have been assisting Parkinson’s patients in the hydrotherapy pool and have noticed a difference in their overall physical and mental well-being. They love the fact that they can walk and move much better whilst in the water. It really helps them to relax their muscles, while they do gentle exercises. We are looking forward to seeing the wider impacts this fantastic facility will have, now that the pool is open to all members of the public.”

A spokesperson for the pool management team said: “After years of fundraising by Dave Richardson along with capital investment from ourselves and a much-appreciated Viridor grant as part of their Environmental Credits Scheme, it is great to fully open to the general public our new HydRose therapy facility.

"Feedback from our trial users funded by Parkinson’s UK has already showed positive impacts being made to people’s lives. We are looking forward to seeing the facility become a hub for rehabilitation and pain relief for those suffering with disabilities, chronic pain and short and long term injuries.

"We are very proud of Dave’s continued efforts as is he still fundraising to help others benefit from using the pool, our only regret is his dear wife’s passing before she had the chance to use it. Dave has helped to create a great legacy in Rose’s name, and we are proud to be a part of that legacy.”

The leisure centre is currently awaiting delivery of an accessible changing bed and shower stool, so anyone requiring this is advised to book appointments from the week of 13 May. There are two changing rooms plus a hoist for the pool.

Hydrotherapy sessions can be booked via the Castleton Health and Leisure Centre’s website: www.chandl.co.uk

To enquire about the Parkinson’s funded sessions, please contact the leisure centre on 01706 353 663.