A STROKE rehabilitation centre which is the only one of its kind in the UK has been officially opened in Southampton.

The facility, which was chosen from 12 units to be funded by the Stroke Association, also acts as a research centre and is based at the city's General Hospital.

A team of researchers from the University of Southampton and clinicians from NHS trusts in Southampton, Bournemouth and Christchurch will work alongside each other to help make the facility a centre of excellence for the south.

The programme is based on a multi-disciplinary approach to recovery after stroke and the reduction of disability.

It was made possible by an award of £500,000 over five years by the Stroke Association.

Professor Ann Ashburn, from the university's School of Health Professions and Rehabilitation, is leading the research.

She said: "The main thing we're aiming to do is to identify the most effective rehabilitation intervention for people with stroke.

"There is research to show that rehabilitation is effective, but we don't know what the key ingredients for rehabilitation are or why they work.

"This is an opportunity for us to become a centre of excellence."

Professor Peter Fentem, from the Stroke Association, added: "In this present climate the NHS requires evidence that things work.

"There are a few too many questions with the therapies where we don't have firm answers. Hopefully this unit will help to answer some of those questions and get the answers that we need which will justify the NHS spending money on rehabilitation."

Prof Fentem said Southampton was chosen because it had the best links with surrounding NHS trusts and it already had an established research reputation in rehabilitation.