A CARE unit dedicated to rehabilitating elderly people after a period of illness is celebrating after having received its 1,000th patient.

Mary Callow arrived at the Worcester Intermediate Care Unit after a fall.

The 79-year-old is expected to return to her home in Warndon, Worcester, rejuvenated after a two-week period of physiotherapy.

Staff at the unit, based in London Road, help patients regain their independence after a period of ill health before returning home.

Nurse manager Sue Perry said that the unit's more personal touch makes the recovery period quicker and more comfortable.

"It's less stressful for the patients to be in this sort of environment than a busy hospital environment," she said.

"It means that the patients are in a more homely setting and that we have more time for them.

"We are able to allow them to do more for themselves here than they would in a hospital, which helps them become more independent," she said.

Staff at the unit work with social services, who can provide additional support after the patient returns home.

Staff also work closely with the family and carers of patients to aid recovery.

The unit, managed by Shaw Healthcare, was set up in 2001 as part of the Government's 10-year plan to improve services for older people.

There are currently 20 beds, jointly funded by the South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust and Social Services.

The unit has a good success rate, with 90 per cent of patients being able to return to their own homes. Those who are not able to do so are helped to find more suitable long-term accommodation.