A County Durham nurse on a mission to help vulnerable people maintain their independence has opened a new healthcare clinic in Easington Colliery.
Ebba Ushe, founder of Quality + Care Solutions, has turned a Seaside Lane building into a healthcare hub for people who need support after hospital but no longer qualify for NHS services.
The former NHS nurse said the clinic grew from seeing how hard it can be for patients to return to everyday life after hospital.
Ebba with her colleague Shailesh Surve. (Image: QCS)
With support from Durham Business Group, the building has been refurbished with treatment rooms, offices and a reception area for the new private, out-of-hours service.
Ebba said: "I want to make healthcare support as accessible as possible, particularly for vulnerable individuals who are no longer under the remit of the NHS but aren't fully recovered and no longer need acute care."
(Image: QCS)
"I will be offering medical treatments utilising my skills and experience as a nurse, which I hope will give people access to a range of services in a way that works for them, for example on an evening or weekend around their work and family commitments."
But Ushe’s plans go beyond nursing care.
She plans to bring in physiotherapists, podiatrists and other professionals to create a one-stop health and wellbeing centre for local people.
"My aim is to provide a full suite of medical services specifically catered for people who need additional help but are desperate to retain their independence," she said.
The clinic is the latest expansion of Quality + Care Solutions, which supports vulnerable County Durham residents through carers, nurses and community healthcare workers.
The company has also invested in specialist beach wheelchairs for adults and children.
The wheelchairs travel across sand, helping people with physical disabilities and severe neurodiverse conditions enjoy trips to the seaside.
Radhikaben Mahant, Shailesh Surve, Ebba Ushe and Lawrence Manyara with Logan and Louis. (Image: QCS)
Ushe said helping people regain confidence and independence is central to the organisation’s work.
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"Having worked in the healthcare system for many years, I understand how some people yearn to go back to what they used to do," she said.
"My team is here to help by offering post-hospital care services that will include physiotherapy, so no one in our community feels isolated or restricted in their ability to live a normal life."
The company has five beach wheelchairs, including three for adults and two for children, which can be hired for £15 an hour through its service.