A brand new child-size gym will open on October 23 at Luton & Dunstable Hospital for young physiotherapy patients. The innovative exercise facility is the first of its kind in an NHS general hospital, and features specially designed miniature equipment for groups of children who need specific exercises to help them recover from injury or surgery, or manage painful conditions such as arthritis, hypermobility syndrome or cystic fibrosis.

A high-tech sports wall has also been installed, which has electronic monitoring systems to measure any improvements in a patient's physical coordination, strength and agility. Equipment supplier Zig Zag slashed the price of the sports wall so that it would fit into the budget.

Usually this type of sports equipment is more likely to be found in a sports centre but thanks to a generous donation of £7,000 by Dunstable Downs Golf Club and some creative solutions from the hospital's estates team to find space on site, it has been possible at the L&D.