Staff and patients took part in national Reconditioning Games
Patients and staff limbered up and took part in the national Reconditioning Games last month – with the Trust coming eighth nationally.
The games are a healthcare initiative to help people being cared for in hospitals and our communities keep active and healthy and aid their recovery.
Staff and patients at the Cumberlege Intermediate Care Centre (CICC), based at Rochford Hospital, have been taking part in fun activities throughout March to promote physical and mental wellbeing.
This included bingo, balloon volleyball, a choir and a ‘Tour de Southend’, in which patients cycled on static bikes.
The CICC looks after adults who have had a period of illness, immobility, stroke or a fall.
Kerri MacKay, Deputy Director of Quality and Safety for Mid and South Essex Community Delivery Care Unit, said: “We were really excited to be taking part in the Reconditioning Games for the first time.
“As an inpatient in hospital, a person will be much less active than normal, and this inactivity leads to ‘deconditioning’, which causes people to lose fitness or muscle tone, especially through lack of exercise.
“It’s been so lovely to see so many patients and members of staff taking part in the national reconditioning programme. The feedback has been amazing.”
The games have been such a hit with both the staff and patients that the CICC therapy team have now decided to put together a timetable of activities to take forward to continue the good work that has happened over the last month.
Karen Last, senior sister on CICC, said: “It has gone very well and has been a great success, with the singing being the favourite activity. I am proud of the medals we have achieved over the last month and feel it has been very beneficial to both staff and patients.”
One of the patients who took part in the games said: “I think it has been an excellent mixture of activities. I have enjoyed the singing, crafts and different games. It has definitely helped with my rehab and has been very therapeutic.”
Our occupational therapy teams have also taken part in the Reconditioning Games through promoting and encouraging a more active and healthier outlook for our patients through physical and educational interventions.
On average, patients in hospital spend most of their time in bed or sitting. Deconditioning can put people at increased risk of falls, affect their independence and recovery, and could mean they have to stay in hospital longer than planned.
The national Reconditioning Games aimed to raise awareness of deconditioning and encourage the sharing of best practice to help people keep physically well in hospitals, care homes, social care and community.
Throughout the month, patients and staff at Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust have won 20 medals including three gold medals in the Making a Difference and Supporting People to Keep Moving categories.