Why patients need ‘get up and go’ in hospital
Encouraging patients to follow their regular routine can help them gain confidence to return home, new research shows. Now NHS staff in Swansea are championing an initiative to help them on the road to a speedy recovery. Peter Slee reports
THINK of a hospital ward and it often conjures up an image of patients propped up in bed in their nightclothes.
But according to a new NHS campaign in Swansea, encouraging people to get up and dress in their everyday clothes could help speed recovery.
Staff at Morriston Hospital in Swansea are urging patients to change out of their pyjamas and gowns as soon as they feel able to move around.
The idea is that by bringing them closer to their regular routine, patients will gain the confidence they need to return home.
In addition, keeping them upright and walking is intended to reduce the loss of mobility from a lengthy hospital stay and reduce associated problems such as pressure sores, all of which delay recovery.
For elderly patients, 10 days of bed rest in hospital equates to 10 years of muscle ageing, according to doctors – which could make all the difference in simple activities such as getting out of bed or using the toilet unaided.
Research shows that too much bed rest weakens elderly patients, and keeping them up and about instead can make the difference between going home or going into a home.
Morriston Hospital in Swansea has now launched a Get Up and Go! campaign to help patients and their families understand why staff are encouraging patients to get out of bed and get dressed while they are still on the ward.
Physiotherapist Sharon Maggs says: “We know that being in bed really isn’t always the best thing for patients,” she adds.
“We want to get the message out to patients, relatives and visitors when they come into hospital not to be surprised when myself or my colleagues encourage patients to get up, get washed and get dressed,” she said.
“We want them to be themselves, be normal. That’s the best rehabilitation.”
Occupational therapist Sarah Morse says what staff want people to do when they come into hospital is “get up, choose what you want for breakfast, put your own clothes on,
At home an older person may walk 5,000-plus steps a day, but in hospital that can easily drop to under 1,000
Elderly patients in a bed begin to weaken one day after admission
After just 24 hours of bed rest, 2-5% of muscle power is lost
10 days of bed rest can lead to up to 10 year’s loss of muscle mass
Bed rest contributes to the risk of thrombosis (blood clots); delirium; walk to the bathroom and have a wash. These are day-to-day things that you would normally do at home.
“This will keep you well, keep you strong and keep you active.”
Patient Wilf Pitman, 81, from Gorseinon, is an enthusiastic advocate of Get Up and Go!
He has been up and about in his day clothes and going for walks with his physiotherapist assistant, Mark Joseph, in the hospital grounds.
Wilf, a founder member of Loughor Inshore Rescue, says: “As I told my doctors, you do your part in treating my lungs, and I’ll do my part in keeping the legs going and keeping
HOSPITAL COMPARED TO HOME
infection (pneumonia); depression and loss of confidence; constipation; incontinence
Often patients can get around at home, but after a hospital stay are too weak to walk. That’s not surprising, as their physical activity can drop 90% when they’re in hospital
Impaired mobility is the reason for four out of 10 care home admissions mobile while I’m here in hospital. Although the physios are doing their job, people have to help themselves as well. “Do your part as a patient.” Patient Tracey Stubbington, 50, says it has been really helpful to get up.
“When you’re in bed you’re just laying down. You just feel so ill and helpless.
“If you just push yourself to get up and get out, it starts to make you feel better, quicker.”
Nicola Williams, Morriston’s nurse director, adds: “We all know the saying ‘they are in the right place’ when someone is admitted.
“If a patient is acutely unwell then that’s fair enough.
“But if they are not kept as active as possible while they are in hospital, or they are kept in too long, then we could actually be doing them more harm than good.
“Another popular saying is ‘there’s no place like home’ and our patients tell us daily that’s where they want to be.
“Evidence shows that patients recover better in their own homes. They are in familiar territory, back in their own bed and they have everyday reasons to get up and about, building strength.
“Keeping them in hospital an extra day ‘just in case’ may not be in their best interests.
“Patients want to go home and we want to help them to do this, so our Get Up and Go! campaign is all about making sure they keep up their strength and mobility and are able to go home when the time is right for them.”