Hospital staff in Hampshire are getting ready to take part in a national #EndPJParalysis challenge.
Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, is taking part in the national challenge aimed at getting patients out of bed and dressed every day.
The campaign’s message is to help make sure those in hospital get better soon by making sure they have clothes to change into while they are there.
Donna Green, Hampshire Hospital’s chief nurse, said: “People often think that staying in bed is the best thing for them when they are in hospital – but the opposite is actually true.
“It’s important that patients get dressed and out of bed every day once they are well enough to do so and it’s amazing the difference that just these simple actions can make.
“Patients who have been in bed for a couple of days often remark that they feel much better when they get up and dressed and it has been shown to help reduce the amount of time they spend in hospital.”
Hampshire Hospitals is taking part in the nationwide challenge, which will feature hospital wards across the country report on the number of patients who are dressed and mobile by midday each day.
The challenge begins on April 17 and will run for 70 days until June 26 to tie in with the 70th anniversary of the NHS.
The ambition for the campaign is to capture a million patient days by the end of the challenge.
Donna added: “Visitors can help simply by making sure that their loved one has clothes and shoes to change into once they are well enough to get out of bed.
“We also want people to challenge us. If your loved one is still in bed with their pyjamas on when you come to visit, ask a member of staff why.
“Also, encourage your loved one to sit on their chair rather than lay in bed, and to walk to the toilet whenever possible.”
In addition to boosting recovery, getting up and dressed every day helps patients leave hospital sooner.
