Spinal centre celebrates 70 years with international conference

A prestigious international conference in spinal injury care is coming to Southport in 2017.

The 34th Guttmann conference is hosted by the North West Regional Spinal Injuries Centre which is part of Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust.

Held at the Ramada hotel on 29 and 30 June, the conference will feature guest speakers from around the world.

In 2017 the centre will celebrate its 70th birthday.

Emily Hoban, who runs the Spinal Centre said: “We are thrilled to host this conference during our 70th birthday year. There has been a spinal unit in Southport since 1947 and it has developed into an internationally recognized centre for excellence.

“We are honoured to welcome more than 200 delegates, experts and professionals in the field of spinal injury rehabilitation and care.

“Ludwig Guttmann was the founding father of care for spinal patients. He was knighted for this work and we want the conference to be a celebration of his lasting legacy.”

As well as setting up the world’s first spinal injuries centre in 1944, Guttmann was the founder of the Paralympic Games.

Emily added: “Anyone watching the Rio Paralympics will have been inspired by the dedication and brilliance shown by all the athletes. When the Paralympics was launched by Ludwig Guttman in 1948 it was a small event. This year more than 4,000 Olympians competed in Rio watched by an audience of millions around the globe.”

Emily is looking for further sponsorship support for the Guttmann conference. If your company can help email: emily.hoban@nhs.net

The North West Regional Spinal Injuries Centre cares for people with spinal cord injuries from Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Cumbria, Cheshire, parts of North Wales and the Isle of Man.

It is an internationally recognised centre of excellence for the treatment of people with high cervical spinal cord injury.

Photo caption: Emily Hoban (right) with members of the NW Regional Spinal Injuries Centre team.