[N]HS Trusts in Cumbria are joining forces to raise awareness and help patients across acute and community hospitals to get up, get dressed and get moving.
The campaign, which is in already popular on social media, is aimed at enabling hospitalised patients to get up, dressed and moving in order to avoid the potential negative impact of being bed-bound while in hospital.
North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust (NCUH) and Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT) are launching the #endPJparalysis campaign for Cumbria. The campaign is not a target-driven project but is focused on providing high quality patient care and empowering patients.
The effects of bed rest in hospital can reduce muscle strength by 2-5 percent in the first 24 hours and up to 10 percent in the first seven days. If a frail elderly patient is dependent on that 10 percent of muscle strength to be able to function at a level that they can manage at home, the consequence of a week in hospital can be very far reaching – they can lose confidence, their sense of identity and their independence.
Barbara Pinguey, specialist physiotherapist at NCUH, said: “By getting up, dressed and moving, patients can speed up their recovery, get home sooner and maintain their normal routines. Ten days in hospital can lead to the equivalent of ten years of ageing in the muscles in people over the age of 80 which of course, we want to do everything we can to avoid. We would also ask patients and relatives/carers to help us by ensuring they or their loved one have clothing and footwear with them rather than just pyjamas.
“We are spreading the word with our staff too by asking them to make pledges which will be shared on our social media pages.”
Janet Folland, professional lead for Occupational Therapy at CPFT, added: “It’s great to be working together on this campaign and the enthusiasm from staff is fantastic. The pledges staff have made so far are a sign of their dedication and drive to do what’s best for patients. Raising awareness of the benefits of being active when in hospital is so important and everyone can get involved to help.”
