A CRITICAL lack of provision for brain injury rehabilitation in the region will be relieved by a new neuro-centre, which opened yesterday.

The Priory Rehabilitation Centre, in East Durham, will be the first in the North-East, and one of only a handful of centres in the UK, that specialises in recovery after brain injury.

With 20 times as many patients needing neuro-rehabilitation as beds available, it is hoped the £500,000 centre in Peterlee will take the pressure off the NHS.

Eight of its 20 beds will also be used to care for people in persistent vegetative states (PVS) - the only facility for the rehabilitation of long-term coma patients.

Declared open by Century Radio DJ Paul 'Goffy' Gough, the state-of-the-art facility was welcomed by Carole Lister, of the Clarke Lister Brain Haemorrhage Foundation.

Carole lost her son Clarke when he was ten years old from a brain haemorrhage, and has since set up the foundation to care for sufferers and conduct research into the causes.

Speaking as she moved her campaign into a new office at the centre, she said: "This is just the beginning. This unit is an answer to a prayer and a blessing for those needing this very special care and understanding.

"Over the years we have met many brain haemorrhage sufferers and their families and learnt of their anxieties, difficulties and financial strains.

"They often become full time carers, many of them having to give up their jobs which can cause huge financial strain and affect their quality of life.

"With the Priory centre we hope to supply a professional counselling service."

One in 12 people attending accident and emergency following head injuries will be left with a serious physical disability or memory loss.

Viv Watson, home director of the privately-funded centre, said: "There is a considerable demand in the North-East for a dedicated unit to manage brain injury patients, which is evident in the level of referrals already secured from across the region."

The unit accepts its first patients on Monday.