An innovative new healthcare partnership launched today will see NHS physiotherapy services moved out of traditional hospital wards and into a local leisure centre for the first time.
Starting today (Monday 1st June 2026), North Yorkshire Council and the Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust have officially relocated physiotherapy treatments from Ripon Community Hospital over to Active North Yorkshire Ripon – The Jack Laugher Centre on Dallamires Lane.
Bespoke renovations have been completed inside the leisure hub to build a dedicated, high-quality clinical space. The move is designed to shift the patient mindset from being a passive “hospital patient” to an “active individual in recovery,” bridging the gap between rehabilitation and daily life. Once their clinical treatment wraps up, patients will have immediate, seamless access to the venue’s gym equipment, swimming pool, and community fitness classes to maintain their health.
The relocation ends a 26-year era of the trust’s physiotherapy team being based at Ripon Community Hospital. The first patient clinics are starting in the new space this week, with pulmonary rehabilitation services scheduled to follow by the end of June.
The site will now deliver a wide array of specialised treatments, including:
- Musculoskeletal (MSK) rehabilitation
- Respiratory physiotherapy
- Neurology rehabilitation
- Pelvic health rehabilitation
- Children’s (paediatric) physiotherapy
The strategy mirrors the trust’s Active against Cancer (AAC) program, which successfully integrated exercise into cancer treatment at the very same Ripon facility back in January. The overarching model aligns with the NHS’s national Fit For the Future 10-Year Health Plan, focusing on preventative care delivered right inside the community. Following this launch, North Yorkshire Council is actively assessing its other fitness hubs across the county to see if further NHS clinical services can be integrated.
“This is a fantastic initiative that will provide significant benefits for residents receiving physiotherapy or rehabilitation services. By creating a clinical space for NHS services within our health and wellbeing hubs, patients can access the same high-quality care in a more informal environment. This can help shift the mindset from being a ‘patient in hospital’ to an ‘active individual in recovery’… It is vital that we find innovative ways to respond to the growing demand on health and social care services, and this partnership shows how we can bring outstanding NHS care closer to our communities.”
Jonathan Coulter, Chief Executive of the Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, stated:
“This move is about rethinking how and where we deliver care. Our physiotherapy team has been based at Ripon Community Hospital for over 26 years. Working in partnership with North Yorkshire Council has enabled us to bring physiotherapy into a community setting that is more accessible and better aligned with how people live their lives. It also helps preserve hospital space for patients who need it most. It’s a strong example of how we are delivering the NHS’ Fit For the Future 10-Year Health Plan locally, focusing on prevention and care closer to home.”
Matt Halpin, Professional Lead for Physiotherapy at the Trust, added:
“Our choice of a leisure-based environment is entirely patient-focused. Moving away from a traditional clinical setting helps patients actively engage in their own recovery with greater confidence. Ultimately, this setting bridges the gap between rehabilitation and reality, supporting smoother transitions and empowering patients to sustain their progress and reclaim their independence.”
