Water system complications caused the hold-up
The National Rehabilitation Centre at Stanford Hall Estate near East Leake (Image: Joseph Raynor/ Reach PLC)
An opening date has been confirmed for a £105 million NHS complex in Nottinghamshire following an extended period of setbacks.
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH), the operator of Queen’s Medical Centre and City Hospital, has been handed the keys to the nation’s inaugural National Rehabilitation Centre – a facility designed for NHS patients who have undergone significant illness or injury.
The 70-bed complex at Stanford Hall Estate close to East Leake was initially scheduled to begin operations on November 11, 2025, but complications with its plumbing infrastructure caused postponement.
NUH has now indicated that the specialist facility should be in a position to admit its initial patients during the opening week of September, having communicated in June that an August launch was being anticipated.
The NHS trust disclosed that the construction team, Integrated Health Partnerships, had spent recent months addressing the water quality concerns within the structure.
Personnel had exchanged 183 mixer taps, regulated temperatures throughout the hot water network, and fitted a chlorine dioxide system to prevent any subsequent complications, according to NUH.
Director Miriam Duffy photographed at the National Rehabilitation Centre (Image: Joseph Raynor/ Reach PLC)
Miriam Duffy, the NRC’s director, said the team was delighted to finally receive the keys to the National Rehabilitation Centre after months of work with IHP to resolve the stubborn water quality issues in order to safely receive the first patients. She noted that while there is still important work to do before welcoming the first patients, receiving the keys allows the beginning of final preparations to bring the building to life. She added that over the coming weeks, the teams will be working closely together to ensure every aspect of the centre is ready to provide outstanding patient rehabilitation from day one. She expressed that the team is incredibly proud of what has been achieved so far and looks forward to opening the doors and realising the vision of the National Rehabilitation Centre as a leading centre of excellence for rehabilitation, innovation, education and research.
The purpose-built complex sits alongside the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre on the Stanford Hall Rehabilitation Estate near Loughborough and forms part of the Government’s New Hospital Programme.