NHS staff and community fundraisers have raised more than £11,000 towards an initiative to encourage patients to stay active during their time in hospital.
Get Up, Get Dressed, Get Moving has been introduced at four wards run by Essex Partnership University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT). These are Beech, Poplar and Plane wards at St Margaret’s Hospital, Epping, and Avocet ward at Saffron Walden Community Hospital.
Each ward looks after people who need physical health care, such as stroke and neurological rehabilitation.
Research has shown patients who are in hospital for just a week lose muscle strength and have poorer blood circulation because of restricted mobility. Prolonged inactivity increases their risk of falls, affects their independence, dignity and recovery, and can lead to other health problems.
The money raised has helped them to renovate under-used day rooms with comfortable furniture, games, activities, smart televisions and artwork.
The aim is to encourage patients to use the space to socialise with each other, staff and their families, rather than stay in their rooms. They can use the space to take part in one-to-one or group activities, eat their meals, or just spend time relaxing.
Therapy leads Louise Knight, Carly Adams and Jo Wise have been leading on the Get Up, Get Dressed, Get Moving initiative, inspired by the End PJ Paralysis campaign.
Carly, a stroke and neurological therapy lead, said: “With our Get Up, Get Dressed, Get Moving campaign and the new look of our day rooms, we’re making spaces for recovery that feel more like home – warm, welcoming, and a place where patients and families can sit and enjoy time together.”
Jo, who is also a stroke and neurological therapy lead, said: “People were staying in their pyjamas, wouldn’t leave their rooms and weren’t talking much socially.
“They would have their lunch in their rooms. The dining tables were always here but we found people weren’t venturing down. However there’s evidence that people eat more when they’re eating socially.”
The therapy teams are using the renovated day rooms to hold more activities, including music, exercise and games sessions. They also have new activity trolleys, which can be moved around the ward so anyone who can’t visit their day room for any reason doesn’t miss out on taking part in activities.
The League of Friends of St Margaret’s Hospital donated £2,015 towards the day room refurbishment at the Epping hospital, and EPUT’s Charitable Funds gave £9,447 towards both sites.
Staff have also raised money by holding social events and monthly baking competitions. This month a small group collectively cycled 209.1km on exercise bikes set up in St Margaret’s Hospital lobby, a distance equivalent to the second stage of the Tour de France.
Art students at Harlow College and art tutor Karen Harrison created artwork for the dayrooms, including placemats for different decades to give patients a talking point to reminisce.
And James Randall, an artist who has exhibited work at the Royal Academy of Arts, donated three of his prints.
Supporters and guests were invited to see the new-look day rooms and meet patients and staff taking part in activities.
Speaking at St Margaret’s Hospital, Councillor Louise Mead, chairman of Epping Forest District Council, said: “I think it’s absolutely amazing. I saw one of the music sessions and you could see from the patients’ faces they were enjoying it. And the day rooms are lovely bright rooms. I am very impressed.”
The League of Friends is one of the charities Cllr Mead is supporting during her year as council chairman.
Pam Mulholland, chair of the League of Friends, said: “We’d like to congratulate the therapy team on bringing this project together and we were impressed by the singing and dancing sessions.
“The League of Friends are here to financially support the work of St Margaret’s Hospital to improve patients’ outcomes and it’s clear the Get Up, Get Dressed, Get Moving campaign will make a real difference to the patients here.
“We would like to thank the people who have contributed financially to the League of Friends and if you would like to support us or get involved, visit https://friendsofstmargarets.co.uk/”
Louise Knight, therapy lead, said: “We’d like to thank everyone who has supported us, it’s been phenomenal and we’re hugely grateful.
“Get Up, Get Dressed, Get Moving is already making such a difference to our patients and we are looking to continue expanding our group activities, as well as trialling a self-service breakfast bar at Beech ward to encourage patients to retain their independence.”
EPUT’s services are funded by the government but EPUT’s Charitable Funds helps to pay for ‘little extras’ for our patients, such as the day rooms, therapy gardens and recreational equipment.
You can find out more on the Charitable Funds webpage.