Top tips booklet helps patients keep well during hospital stay
No-one wants to go to hospital as a rule. Recovery after treatment can take time, and looking after yourself in hospital can help you get home sooner.
A ‘Keeping Well in Hospital’ booklet, designed to promote independence, recovery and safer discharge has been launched by the South Eastern Trust.
The clear and accessible guide has been compiled using the experiences of hospital patients themselves.
The guide has been developed to support patients, families and staff to recognise, prevent and reverse ‘deconditioning’ during hospital admission.
Deconditioning refers to the physical and functional decline associated with inactivity, prolonged bedrest and reduced engagement, particularly affecting older people and those with acute illness.
Evidence highlights significant impacts on mobility, continence, nutrition and independence following admission.
Allied Health Professions Assistant Director, Julie Alexander, said: “The user-friendly booklet compliments the ‘Take Five’ health message, Move, Eat, Drink, Think, Connect and Engage, that encourages our patients to remain active, nourished, mentally engaged and socially connected throughout their stay.
“It includes practical advice, safety messages, and signposting to Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Dietetics and Speech and Language Therapy, when concerns
“As part of South Eastern Trust’s focus on frailty, this resource supports safer care, independence, recovery and discharge planning, aiming to reduce functional decline, length of stay and avoidable complications.
“I would like to extend my sincere thanks to our patients who shaped this resource through lived‑experience advice and to the Multidisciplinary Teams who supported its development.”
Photo 1. Assistant Director AHP (Allied Health Professional) Workforce, Safe and Effective Care Julie Alexander and Service User Ann Murray
Photo 2. L-R – Speech and Language Therapist Ruth Hompstead, Physiotherapist, Lisa Hughes, Chair / Principal Physiotherapist Aileen Mulhall, Service User Ann Murray, Associate Improvement Advisor Leea Walsh, Dietitian Olivia Smyth, Assistant Director AHP (Allied Health Professional) Workforce, Safe and Effective Care Julie Alexander, Specialist Nurse, Vivienne Murdock ,
Photo 3. L-R – South Eastern Trust Occupational Therapy Lead Alison Gill, Specialist Physiotherapist, Orla Reavey, Physiotherapy Tech Instructor, Colette Duffy and Staff Nurse, Tara Boyd
