gymnasium facilities at a community hospital are speeding up the rehabilitation process for patients.

The work-out room has been opened at Chester-le-Street Community Hospital and has been hailed a success by resident staff.

Claire Sinnot, clinical lead and Frances Robinson, senior physiotherapist, of Durham and Chester-le-Street Primary Care Trust, have set up personal rehabilitation programmes to suit the needs of their patients.

The programmes encourage patients to use the gym following discharge from the physiotherapy service.

Ms Sinnot said: "By referring patients direct to the hospital gymnasium they can receive maximum support and advice from physiotherapists, their assistants and each other, which helps them to return to their normal daily lives both at work and in the home as soon as possible."