A brain or spinal cord injury can occur suddenly. Typically after heart failure, a blood clot or a road accident. Treatment and rehabilitation after an injury is often long-term. The majority of patients are hospitalised for several months.
The Capital Region of Denmark's new building, the Bodil Eskesen Centre, at Copenhagen University Hospital – Rigshospitalet in Glostrup will provide brain and spinal cord injury patients with completely new and specially designed treatment and rehabilitation facilities.
The building was inaugurated on 21 June by Chairman of the Regional Council, Lars Gaardhøj (Danish Social Democrats), and Minister of the Interior and Health, Sophie Løhde (Liberal Party).
"The Bodil Eskesen Centre will provide brain and spinal cord injury patients with optimal treatment and rehabilitation facilities at the highest, international level. Everything from patient rooms and rehabilitation rooms to the garden surrounding the building have been adapted to the patients and provide the best conditions for treatment and rehabilitation," said Lars Gaardhøj, Chairman of the Regional Council of the Capital Region of Denmark.
Indoor and outdoor rehabilitation
The Bodil Eskesen Centre has private rooms with plenty of space for wheelchairs and other ancillary equipment, training kitchens, a multi-purpose hall for gait and wheelchair training and smaller training rooms. The building also has a 7x15 metre training pool.
Gravel, steps and different types of surfaces are used for gait and wheelchair training in the garden.
The Bodil Eskesen Centre has 125 beds for patients from all of eastern Denmark. Initially, 65 beds will be taken into use.
Improved treatment of spinal cord injuries and brain injuries
The new hospital building is the first place in Denmark to treat both brain and spinal cord injuries. Joining the two specialist areas in one place will improve treatment, rehabilitation and research.
"Patients can get started on their treatment and rehabilitation more quickly after the first acute treatment phase, which we know is important for returning to normal life. By strengthening research, we can ensure even more evidence-based treatment. The past decades have seen incredible progress. But I think even more progress is just ahead of us," said Jannick Brennum, Centre Director of the Neuroscience Centre at Copenhagen University Hospital – Rigshospitalet.
The Department of Brain and Spinal Cord Injury, which used to be located at Hvidovre Hospital and in Hornbæk, has now moved into the new building in Glostrup.
Room for relatives
Like the patients' lives, the lives of relatives are instantly turned upside down when the family is struck by a brain injury. The Bodil Eskesen Centre has plenty of room for relatives, so they can be close to their hospitalised family member.
The family building will be built next to the centre. It will have 11 flats for relatives who live far away or who need to be close to the patient for specific reasons. The family building is expected to open in the autumn of 2023.
Facts about the Bodil Eskesen Centre
Built to provide treatment and rehabilitation for patients with brain and spinal cord injuries.
Patients from all of eastern Denmark, including Greenland and the Faroe Islands
A total of 25,000 square metres with 125 private rooms, outpatient departments, multi-purpose hall, training pool and rehabilitation garden
Family building for relatives
Rigshospitalet's Department of Brain and Spinal Cord Injury is located in the building
The contractor of the project was the Centre for Real Estate in the Capital Region of Denmark
The building was designed by AART Architechts A/S, and Nordic – Office of Architecture was the full-service consultant. Marianne Levinsen Landskab ApS
About Bodil Eskesen
The Bodil Eskesen Centre is named after Bodil Eskesen (1912-1996), a consultant who worked most of her life to improve rehabilitation for patients with spinal cord injuries.
As the first chairman of the Danish Sport Organisation for the Disabled, she also worked to promote sports for people with a disability and ensured that this should not only apply to people with a physical disability, but with also a mental disability.
She was responsible for the first Danish participation in the 1968 Paralympics.
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