MOBILITY and freedom for the elderly and disabled is the theme of a £1m resource centre for health professionals due to be officially opened in Malvern this month.

State-of-the-art disability aids are on display in the demonstration showroom, alongside training and assessment rooms at the half-acre site acquired by OT Stores in Spring Lane North.

The company, which designs and manufactures disability and medical products, has moved from Bromyard to the purpose-built premises, which will be officially opened by the chief executive of the College of Occupational Therapy, Sheelagh Richards, on Friday, October 28.

Health professionals will be able to tour the site, which includes kitchen and bathroom designs incorporating all the latest aids to independent living, together with new safety features.

The displays are designed to show councils, housing associations, charity and health service employees, as well as disabled consumers, what is available in aids for mobility, ease of access, daily living, sleeping and dining.

Training sessions will be arranged for occupational therapists, physiotherapists, nurses, carers and disability advisers to keep them up to date with the latest developments and practical techniques needed to help people.

"As a family company, we have worked closely with occupational and physiotherapists and we supply about three-quarters of the country's local authorities with equipment," said managing director Dylan Phillips.

"We have specialist staff who are trained to give advice on suitable products. For example, our new community equipment adviser, Karen Hermitage, has been working as a nurse for 23 years."

The company employs 17 people and Mr Phillips said that now they were in a bigger building they would be able to recruit more staff.

Senior occupational therapist Sue Allen, who organised the launch day, said she was hoping to welcome about 30 health professionals to the event. "We have already had a great response from my colleagues in the NHS and social services, who say there is nothing like this for miles around," she said.