20 Jun

The London Prosthetics Centre’s New Facility and What it Means For Case Managers

In the highly competitive medico-legal prosthetics landscape, one factor continues to heavily influence referral decisions: access to high-quality rehabilitation. "It’s not just about providing a prosthesis anymore — that’s expected. What people want now is a holistic approach, a one-stop shop.” Said Belinda Smart, Business Manager at the London Prosthetics Centre (LPC).

It’s precisely this need that has shaped the design of the new LPC facility, featuring a fully-equipped prosthetic clinic, manufacturing services, and rehabilitation studio all under one roof. LPC Prosthetists Danny van der Merwe, Carl Cato, and Abdo Haidar sat down alongside Belinda to discuss the new facility and how it will benefit Case Managers and their clients.

With expanding fitting capabilities and on-site rehabilitation now available at the London Prosthetics Centre, how do you see this changing the client experience?

Carl: “By expanding into a bigger and better facility, we’re able to spend more time with clients. It’s not about finishing the job quickly or seeing as many clients as possible in a day — we have the time to focus on each individual client in the right setting, enhancing their overall experience.”

Belinda: “We are able to give clients more time and a more personalised experience. All the new fitting rooms are fully equipped for both upper and lower limb amputations, including the casting room, which gives us far more flexibility. Our new centre gives us the capacity to see more people, more comfortably, and more promptly.”

Abdo: “Clients will benefit from a more personalised and coordinated approach, helping to reduce delays, enhance comfort, and make the transition from fitting to everyday use much smoother. Overall, the new location is set to make the rehabilitation journey more cohesive, convenient, and less stressful for our new and existing clients.”

How critical is it for prosthetic providers to offer integrated physiotherapy and occupational therapy when it comes to securing referrals and fostering long-term client engagement?

Danny: “OTs look at ADLs, the home, the community environment, and return-to-work plans. We provide the limb, and our OTs and physios bring that realistic, bigger-picture approach. It’s crucial. Our new facility offers clients everything under one service but with a whole team of experts at hand.”

Abdo: “This integrated approach supports faster recovery, better comfort, and more confident use of prosthetics in day-to-day life. Most importantly, it leads to stronger clinical outcomes and a higher quality of life, empowering our clients to regain independence and return to the activities that matter most to them.”

What benefits will medico-legal professionals and case managers see from having assessment, manufacturing, fitting, and rehabilitation all under one roof at the London Prosthetics Centre?

Carl: “It enables a more collaborative, structured clinical approach and improves planning. With everything all in one place, we can use objective outcome measures to evidence clinical decisions and report progress back quickly to those funding the case. That level of collaboration and communication is key.”

What role does environment play in client engagement and recovery, and how might the new centre help motivate clients throughout their journey?

Danny: “A professional, patient-led space helps people visualise their rehab goals and feel motivated. The new centre is warm, welcoming, and modern — it encourages people to show up and engage, even with something as routine as an appointment. Seeing the gym and the space around them can help clients to clearly envisage their progress.”

The London Prosthetics Centre has a mission to care for all, how was accessibility considered when designing the new centre?

Carl: “We’ve left no stone unturned in trying to accommodate everyone — whether that’s physical ability or cultural considerations. For example, the facility features a wheelchair lift, wide corridors and door frames, ramps, multiple disabled parking bays, power-assisted doors, showering facilities, and clear signage, and we’ve included a bathroom setup with our Middle Eastern clients in mind. The new facility has allowed us to improve where we simply couldn’t before. Our clients are at the heart of everything we do, so providing a truly accessible space was of utmost importance to us.”

How do you ensure high levels of personalisation and emotional support remain central, even as your capacity and caseload increase?

Carl: “By maintaining a team-based approach across the clinic, including support from our technicians and admin staff, we can ensure the best outcomes for each client. We’re being deliberate about how we manage time—we’re not just trying to fit everyone in. Instead, we’re prioritising client needs and planning carefully so no one feels rushed or overlooked. We’re committed to maintaining the same high standard of care by not compromising quality. It’s a collaborative effort to make sure the client experience still reflects who we are.”

Belinda: “We’re the dream team—our technical team in particular is exceptional. They’re a small but dedicated group, and we all work really closely together. They understand our ethos—that what they’re producing has to be good enough for their own family. They won’t hand over a device until it meets that standard. That level of pride and care carries through everything we do.”

What does LPC do to advocate for inclusivity, particularly for those who may not have access to private or legal-funded care?

Danny: “We often offer advice with no obligation, providing guidance and support, even when we can't offer direct care. It's all about helping people to the best of our abilities to ensure more and more people are included.”

Carl: “We’re thrilled to be part of the Eqwal group, who have emphasised that “inclusion is a global struggle.” Our work, with Eqwal's support, spans countries like Thailand, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. On a day-to-day basis, even if someone cannot afford treatment, we offer valuable advice, which our clients greatly appreciate. The amputee community is relatively small and we’re proud of our reputation for inclusive, patient-centred care.”

How do you think perceptions of disability have changed in recent years, and what role can prosthetists play in continuing to reshape those perceptions — within and beyond the claims process?

Danny: “Education and representation have massively improved in recent years, with more disabled models and personalities in the media. As prosthetists at LPC, we place importance on educating our clients about the opportunities available to them, like sports or dancing, and connect them with support groups to help them give these activities a go and embrace their new lives. This kind of education and support is really important in reshaping perceptions from within the amputee community.”

Belinda: "The advancements in technology have also helped reshape the perception of what is possible. Our new centre allows us the space to hold interactive events, not only with clients but also with partners, clinics and rehabilitation staff to share this new technology far and wide! Events like our client open days help amputees explore the latest technology, raising awareness of devices like the QAUTTRO or Genium MPKs they may not have known about before.”

The London Prosthetics Centre’s New Facility and What it Means For Case Managers

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