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The Motomed machine |
‘Disability is not a sexy cause for a council gym to take up’
Wheelchair user says leisure charity has ‘moral duty’ to provide specialist £3,000 fitness aid
A DISABLED man believes the charity running Islington’s flagship gym is failing its “moral duty” to provide proper equipment to all members.
Jonathan Steele, 46, was told buying a Motomed machine for Highbury Pool gym was a “waste” of money.
The fitness aid – that stops the muscles degenerating and is used in every major London hospital – could help hundreds of disabled people stretch their legs.
But Aquaterra Leisure, the charity which runs Islington’s leisure facilities, said the £3,000 machine had no place in a “commercial gym” because able-bodied members would not use it.
Mr Steele, who lives in Wharf Road, said: “As far as I know there is only one Motomed in Islington, a borough which has more than the average number of disabled people. I would argue there is a moral duty to help those who are least able to help themselves.
“Aquaterra is a council-funded charitable gym which is central to the whole community. The trouble is disability is not a money-maker. It is not sexy.”
Mr Steele was hit on the head by a cricket ball in a school match when he was 13. The blow caused a blood clot in his brain and he was plunged into a coma. He had lost the use of his legs when he came to.
Describing himself as an “intellectual” – he has a degree in theology from Oxford University – he remains “proactive” as a fundraiser for the Camden Law Centre.
His calls for the machine has exposed problems with new government health policy that is moving out-patients out of hospitals to be treated in the community.
Gareth Davies, director of Medimotion – which supplies the machines across the country – said: “All the London hospitals have them and it is important gyms do because there is a big move to treat out-patients outside the hospital.
“Physiotherapists are now being told to refer out-patients to their local gym. That’s not much use if they gym doesn’t have the machine.”
Mr Davies said the Motomed costs around £3,000 – a drop in a £1.6 million ocean spent last year on improving facilities at the Highbury Pool gym, where Mr Steele is a member.
The Highbury Pool gym has more than 100 exercise stations, a stretch area, regular tummy workouts and a cardio-theatre, classes including yoga, pilates, aerobics, circuit training and a sauna and steam room.
It is, according to the Aquaterra, “north London’s most popular public facility”.
Tess MacManus, chair of Disability Action In Islington, said: “Eighteen per cent of people living in Islington are disabled. That is quite high.
“Access to leisure facilities is very important. It reduces the cost to the PCT and the NHS. There should be consultation with disabled people. If the machine is really too expensive then they should be looking at ways of finding funding in the future.”
Councillor Ruth Polling, executive member for leisure and equalities at Islington Council, said: “The council is firmly committed to making leisure accessible to all residents, including disabled people. All of Aquaterra’s seven gyms in Islington, which are run on a charitable basis, offer disabled accessible equipment, and also run a popular and successful outreach service.
“But what we cannot do is provide medical equipment at our gyms – this is a specialist rehabilitation machine.
“Aquaterra are still in discussions with Mr Steele about a suitable alternative piece of sporting equipment.
“We are keen that as many disabled residents as possible use our services.”
Aquaterra Leisure declined to comment. |
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