The opening of the Pounds 350,000 Bobath Centre in Glasgow offers children with cerebral palsy an alternative form of therapy to that provided through conductive education at the Craighalbert Centre in Cumbernauld.
Parents encouraged by improvements to their children after exposure to the London-based Bobath method lobbied for the centre. Many of the 120 children registered have been referred through the Health Service and previously had to travel to London.
Susan Horsburgh, therapist in charge, said: “Expert services are much more accessible. Children will be able to visit the centre more frequently and more will benefit.”
The Bobath method, first introduced to Britain 40 years ago, seeks to improve mobility through a combination of exercises and therapy. It differs from the conductive education pioneered at the Peto Institute in Hungary by being medically rather than educationally based.
The Glasgow centre is exploring the possibility of financial support from health boards, as happens in London and Cardiff.
Bobath Scotland, which has three therapy rooms and five therapists, can fund its annual Pounds 225,000 costs for two years thanks mainly to donations from Scottish trusts and charities like Children in Need.
It aims to be a resource for teachers as well as health professionals, and the first teacher training course starts in April at Stanmore House School in Lanark.
