The Move for March campaign is showing positive results for patients

Throughout the month of March, Ward 9BS are running their ‘Move for March’ campaign, designed to promote and encourage the benefits of patients getting up and moving during their hospital stay.

The campaign is a follow up from ‘Steptember’ which the team ran last September with huge success.

Move for March activities include a range of exercise and social events including:

• A pedal station for patients to sit down and do some leg exercises
• An exercise wall where patients can do a variety of exercises
• Group seated Zumba (run by the AIN)
• Walking hour between 4-5pm
• Group dining to encourage socialisation.

The feedback from patients has been very positive, with patients stating that they have enjoyed getting up and chatting to other patients. Feedback included:

 “I never knew exercising could be so much fun.”

 “I enjoyed the walking group. It made my hospital stay seem worthwhile (and) brought people together that would never normally have spoken. A smile and a hello helps recovery. Thank you 9BS.”

RBWH Registered Nurse Vanessa Bell said the initiative is a collaborative effort undertaken by all staff on the ward.

“It has been a win-win for everyone as patients are more mobile and enjoying themselves and the staff have seen many benefits that come with patients being up and moving,” Vanessa said.

“In healthcare, we are often scared to let patients move too much for fear of them falling and as such, we have become very risk averse.

“Our ward has demonstrated that increasing mobility does not increase falls – it actually does the opposite. We plan to continue these strategies moving forwards.”

Well done to 9BS for your initiative and innovative thinking!