Give support to your pool As I lay there in a hospital bed following my road accident on Boxing Day, being informed I had two broken ankles and needed surgery on one to repair, my world fell apart.

As a keen sportsman who liked running, cycling and who coaches a ladies football team, I was devastated. My whole life revolved around sport and it was the worst start to 2015 as I went for surgery on New Year’s Eve.

I spent six weeks with both legs in plaster and then the task of learning to walk began; it was an awful, slow process and I struggled with many aspects of this, using a zimmer frame, progressing to crutches, and then unaided with a big cumbersome boot.

One of the aspects that no one prepares you for is the isolation, feelings of never getting better, the frustration at not being able to do normal things. Many of these would have driven anyone mad, and it could easily lead to bouts of depression. Allied to this the physio I experienced was minimal at the health centre.

I could have easily become despondent and slipped into a deep despair of not getting back to normality; however, I had a life saver in Settle Swimming Pool.

This is by no means an understatement; the impact on that pool cannot be measured in monetary value alone and that is the unique aspect of this invaluable community resource.

From the moment I walked through that door it has been the best and most wonderful experience I could have asked for. I was assessed by Paul the physio, a truly remarkable, encouraging and inspiring man, who wants nothing but the best for his patients.

He watched over a pool full of people, all with varying aches and pains and at different stages of recovery, knowing each of his clients and always spending time with everyone.

Then there are the pool staff, always smiling helpful and encouraging to everyone. Nothing is ever too much for them. They help and encourage when you need it.

Without them I would not be at the stage of my recovery that I am at now and progressing each day.

What makes this pool so unique is the impact it makes on each individual. Not only is hydrotherapy good for getting physical strength back to damaged limbs and gaining confidence to use those muscles, limbs etc. but there is an unnoticed and immeasurable benefit that occurs.

Many of the users of the sessions would be lost without this resource. The holistic nature of these hydrotherapy sessions cannot be measured, nor can it be prescribed. A hidden value that money cannot buy is the support for each other, the encouragement that people get from each other; the ability to care for each other all of this should not be underestimated.

Each time we attend the staff are there with a warm welcome, helping, encouraging, supporting and taking time to understand our concerns and worries.

Without this resource many would suffer loneliness, isolation, despair in their recovery process and some would make no recovery at all.

I cannot thank the pool staff, Paul and all those who attend each week Monday and Wednesday for the help and support they give. Yes it is my little social club and I have made friends in there who make my week, but it has been my lifeline in a battle to get back to where I was before my accident. Maybe I never will but it won’t be for the lack of encouragement and emotional support that people give to each other every week.

I hope thatSettle pool can prosper for another 40 years. It is a life saving community resource Settle should be proud of, and it should receive more funding, not less.

You would never be able to measure the impact on the quality of life of each individual that attend these sessions. Support your local pool, it may be your life saver next.

Dr Tony Gill

Giggleswick