A Derbyshire builder hoping to walk again has become the first patient admitted to the new NHS National Rehabilitation Centre in Rushcliffe.
Neil Smith, from Milford, arrived at the 70-bed centre on Wednesday 2 September — his 37th birthday.
The self-employed builder is receiving specialist rehabilitation after being diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND).
Neil said complications following a procedure involving a spinal block led to numbness in his left leg and tremors in both legs, making it difficult for him to stand and walk.
He said: “The pain used to be intense, but now that I’m here the doctors have got that under control. Our focus now is on managing the tremors and hopefully getting me back on my feet.
“It obviously makes the day even more special for me. Knowing that I’ll receive the best possible care here is the best birthday present I could ask for.”
His aim is to walk out of the centre and return home to his wife, Jade, and their 12-year-old son, Alfie.
Neil said he hoped eventually to resume activities including badminton, mountain biking and golf, and to cycle around Carsington Water with his son.
He added: “I know there’s a pitch-and-putt course at the NRC and I fully intend to beat the course record.”
Dr Javvad Haider, Rehabilitation Medicine Lead at the NRC and Neil’s consultant, said his condition required support from a specialist multidisciplinary team.
He said: “The NRC, together with its advanced technology and purpose-built environment, gives us the ability to deliver rehabilitation at a level beyond anything we have previously experienced.
“We hope we can help Neil get back to being the dad and husband he wants to be. For a patient like Neil, the NRC could be life-changing.”
The National Rehabilitation Centre welcomed its first NHS patients on 2 September. It is run by Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and treats people recovering from life-changing illnesses and injuries.
The £105 million facility is based at the Stanford Hall Rehabilitation Estate near Loughborough, alongside the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre. Patients can use specialist facilities including hydrotherapy, gait analysis and accessible outdoor areas.
Its opening had been delayed from November 2025 after the building’s water system did not initially meet the safety standards required for the patients who would be treated there. Work included the replacement of 183 taps at the National Rehabilitation Centre
