Not Just For Today, For Every Day - it's Move it May!

This month, we’re taking part in Move it May for a third year by trying to stop deconditioning and encouraging our patients to get up, get dressed and keep moving as much as they can during their time in hospital with us (if appropriate to do so).

When patients spend prolonged periods in bed when in hospital, it puts them at risk of becoming weaker and losing strength quickly, which is known as deconditioning. Muscle deconditioning can have a detrimental effect on our patients’ health, well-being, mobility, independence and comfort, as the longer a patient stays in hospital, the greater the impact of deconditioning and the harder it is for the patient to return home or avoid re-admission.

Anyone who comes into contact with patients on wards can all play a part in helping and encouraging them to get up, get dressed and keep moving as much as they can - this includes any member of staff, as well as a patient's visitors. The next time you visit a loved one in hospital, making sure they get up, get dressed, and keep moving as much as they can could make a huge difference to their hospital stay.

Throughout the month, we'll be showcasing all of the activities, events and initiatives that are taking place to across our hospitals to help stop deconditioning and get patients dressed, up out of bed and moving as much as possible!