HEALTH bosses have been forced to make a dramatic U-turn on a controversial decision to close a hydrotherapy pool at Orpington hospital. Hundreds of people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and related problems, could have suffered after serious leaks in the pool forced Bromley NHS Trust to announce its early closure this September.

Patients rejected the decision and, after discussions on Friday, the U-turn was announced. A former night sister at Orpington, who does not want to be named, said: "This is the only hydrotherapy pool in the whole borough. Many would remain housebound and crippled when, with warm water and exercise, they manage to obtain some degree of mobility. One patient said: "I have had rheumatoid arthritis for more than 15 years. I cannot describe the relief hydro treatment gives when you have pain in every joint. Now it could all come to an end. Bromley Health should at least try to replace it."

A Trust spokesman said: "After looking at all the options, it has been decided to keep the pool open after all. It means topping it up continually, but this should be a manageable position until the original scheduled closure time next year."

Last year The Trust told health action groups it would offer a replacement pool at the new hospital site in Farnborough, as the Orpington site makes way for housing development. Friends of Orping-ton Hospital, who provided the original pool in 1975 at a cost of £40,000, believe there is no guarantee the promise will be kept.

Chairman Brenda Latham said: "I want the trust to re-assess the cost of closure against the human costs of people missing out on treatment and being left in pain. How can the Trust not stand by its original commitment to replace such a valuable facility? We intend to ask for answers and a firm commitment that treatment will continue."

A Trust spokesman said it would discuss the future of hydrotherapy with patients' representatives but said: "We need to identify funding first and then look at all the options."

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