HSE/SOUTH EAST COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE

active mentally and physically during their hospitalisation. The principle was subsequently stretched across several disciplines and spheres of healthcare and health and wellbeing in the community.

Illustrating the benefits of ‘Get up, Get dressed, Get moving’ across health services, the HSE’s Director of Nursing/National Lead Older Persons Services/Clinical and Integrated Programmes, Deirdre Lang, said: “‘Get up, Get dressed, Get moving’ is more important now than ever, as we begin to see if not also undo the impact of socially isolating by our older and more vulnerable populations. Remaining at home for long periods has left significant numbers of people with reduced mobility, experiencing deconditioning, muscle weakness, and joint pain. Reduced mobility has a knock-on effect and many people have put on weight, are experiencing joint and muscle pain, and report feeling consistently low.”

A national campaign, developed by the Office of the Nursing and Midwifery Services Director in partnership with the Health and Social Care Professions Office, HSE, and entitled ‘Get up, Get dressed, Get moving’ is being implemented to great effect across counties Waterford and Wexford.

The aim of ‘Get up, Get dressed, Get moving’ is to maintain the mobility of patients, residents, and health service users and to guard against their deconditioning. The network members includes all services across the spectrum of healthcare (including acute hospitals, mental health, care of older persons, and disability services) and works in partnership with academics, researchers, sporting organisations, and Age Alliance. It has particular resonance as people decondition and become frailer at this and coming stages of Ireland’s pandemic experience.

The impetus for ‘Get up, Get dressed, Get moving’ originated in advice being offered by physiotherapists to older inpatients in hospitals – that is, to stay

“‘Get up, Get dressed, Get moving’ promotes physical activity in any form that meets the needs and ability of the individual – which can be from sitting to standing from a chair to running five kilometres. The key message of ‘Get up, Get dressed, Get moving’ is that every movement counts.”

“The plan for the remainder of 2021 is to roll-out ‘Get up, Get dressed, Get moving’ in acute hospitals, at home, a scale-up of the work being undertaken in Waterford/ Wexford Mental Health Services and the development of work with the National Ambulance Service, intensive care units, and social inclusion groups.”

Speaking about where examples of ‘Get up, Get dressed, Get moving’ have been implemented locally, the HSE/South East Community Healthcare’s Acting Principal Psychology Manager for Wexford Mental Health Services, Dr Denise Rogers, says: “We have seen significant improvements in the quality-of-life of service in those mental health settings where ‘Get up, Get dressed, Get moving’ is now part of the overall approach.”

Author: Eamonn Brady MPSI