In this month’s ‘Driving Mobility Centre of the Month’ we say hello to the team at North East Drive Mobility in Newcastle upon Tyne.
North East Drive Mobility (NEDM) opened its doors at Hunters Moor Neurorehabilitation Hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne in the Spring of 1989. The centre was the brainchild of neurologist Dr (later to become Professor) Mike Barnes and its first car was a Nissan Micra automatic, donated by the Nissan manufacturing plant based in Washington which had opened just 3 years earlier. The static unit at the time was half a Mini going by the name of Mavis!
Fast forward 33 years and they now have a dedicated department in Walkergate Park Neurorehabilitation Hospital with their own track housing a vast collection of vehicles!! The current team comprises of 5 Mobility Clinicians, including a Clinical Lead, 4 ADIs, 3 administrative staff and a Centre Manager.
To meet the needs of the large geographical area the service covers, they opened outreach services in Cumbria in 2009 and Teesside in late 2019, alongside the roll out of the Regional Transport Hub pilot.
The team provide independent assessment and advice to people with a medical condition, or disability, which may affect their ability to drive, or use a vehicle as a passenger.
They welcome experienced and learner drivers, or provisional licence holders who have not yet started to learn to drive. Advice and assessment are also offered to people of all ages with mobility difficulties on travelling safely in a vehicle as a passenger.
Current services are:
- Car driving assessment
- High Tech driving adaptations (including drive from wheelchair)
- Driver/passenger access/seating assessment
- Wheelchair/scooter loading assessment (including WAV)
- Driving tuition service
The team has recently received some good news with the announcement confirming HUBS2 provision for the next 3 years. The purpose of Hubs is to provide information about realistic transport options for individuals, to help promote greater independence as well as combating loneliness and social isolation. The Hubs can also provide driver retirement support to thosewho no longer wish, or are unable, to continue driving.
The photograph above shows us enjoying a team away day: Left to right (Back: Liz Scott-Tatum (Clinician), Lynn Roberts (Team Manager), Dave Gill (ADI), Jess Kelly (Admin), Paul Gasper (Admin), Colin Noutch (ADI), Chris Masters (Admin) and Rob Forman (Clinician)); (Front: Nina Weatherspoon (Admin), Neil Parker (ADI), Ros Gay (Clinical Lead), Christine Holliday (Clinician), Sandra Hoggins (then Centre Manager), Paula George (ADI) and Kirsteen Longstaff (Clinician)).
If you are local to the Newcastle area and want to find out more about how the North East Drive Mobility team can help you or someone you know please visit:
Tel: 0191 287 5090
Email: northeast.drivemobility@cntw.nhs.uk
Newcastle upon Tyne – Driving Mobility
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