Helping hands to a better lifestyle

St. Vincent’s Hospice are pioneering a new treatment approach for patients with life limiting conditions, helping them get fitter and more active in time for Christmas.

The Howood hospice invited six people to take part in their wellbeing group, which combines carefully structured exercise programmes with education sessions.

The group aimed to give them tools and support they needed to improve their fitness, get more active and improve their quality of life without additional medication.

Physiotherapist and day hospice manager, Sarah Mitchell, said: “There is a growing body of evidence to suggest that rehabilitation techniques can be very effective for treating patients in a palliative care setting.

“Not all of our patients need to be admitted as inpatients, but can benefit from regular support as they may struggle to carry out some daily tasks that many of us take for granted.”

John Rumble, a particpant in the project, commented: “Back in March I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. It travelled into my leg and into my knee, causing me tremendous pain, to the extent that when I first came to St. Vincent’s I was in a wheelchair. Thanks to taking part in the classes and working with the team, I gradually got out of the chair and moved on to elbow crutches and then onto walking sticks.”