PATIENTS at Tenbury Hospital are being encouraged to get mobile to aid their recovery.

The Trust responsible for Worcestershire community hospitals and recovery units is backing a national campaign to encourage patients in hospital wards to get up dressed and mobile to support their recovery.

#EndPJParalysis is a national NHS campaign which urges staff on wards to encourage patients to get up, washed and out of the PJs and into their normal daytime clothes. Being in pyjamas can reinforce the feeling of being unwell and can pro-long recovery. Also, being immobile for long periods can cause chest infections and muscle degeneration.

For example, for patients over the age of 80 a week in a hospital bed can lead to 10 years of muscle ageing, 1½ kg of muscle loss, and may lead to increased dependency and demotivation.

Getting up and mobile has been shown to reduce falls, improve patient experience and reduce length of stay by up to 1½ days.

The campaign runs until the end of June and staff in the county’s community hospitals in Tenbury, Evesham, Malvern, Bromsgrove, and Kidderminster, which are run by Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, are all embracing the initiative

“We have been encouraging patients in our community hospitals to get up and dressed for some time now as we’ve long recognised the physical and psychological benefits but this campaign is a great way of reinforcing that message,” said Michelle Clarke, Director of Nursing and Quality at the Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust.

Tenbury is one of a number of community hospitals in Worcestershire and provides care for people who are not well enough to go home but do not need the level of care of a bigger hospital.

It has a minor injuries unit open throughout the day.