Swimmers with feeding tubes offered pool sessions

Special swimming sessions are being offered to people who use feeding tubes or central lines for medication.

The sessions are taking place at Triangle Leisure Centre in Burgess Hill, West Sussex and Camberley Leisure Centre in Surrey.

Both are run by the Places Leisure group, which is running the campaign in partnership with the charity Face Everything and Rise (FEAR).

“The ability to go for a swim at a public pool is something that most of the population take for granted but those reliant on a central line have been marginalised for too long," said Mark Haslam from Places Leisure.

They hope to overcome problems faced by those who use the medical technology who also want to enjoy swimming.

These include the loan of dry suits and providing extra training for staff.

Mr Halsam said: “Holding sessions specifically for people who are reliant on a central line means any stigma or nervousness they feel is significantly reduced as they can enjoy their time in the pool with people in the same position."

FEAR was founded by Kim Purkis, a former diver who was diagnosed with intestinal failure.

“When you consider the expense of drysuits, it’s yet another obstacle for families" she said, "which is why we have worked so hard to be able to offer a loan system for those who need it.

“In a short space of time we have been able to make huge strides and have offered more than one thousand people to chance to swim in a public pool which for far too long has been impossible or daunting."

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