Southampton's Saints players share the festive joy with patients at University Hospital Southampton
Players from Southampton Football Club helped patients get active during a surprise visit to the medicine for older people (MOP) ward at University Hospital Southampton (UHS) to highlight the cutting edge ‘Falls Recovery Programme’.
The project, run by Saints Foundation, is a referral-based 12-week rehabilitation programme in the community for older adults in Southampton who have had, or are at risk of, a serious fall.
Three years ago, in 2022, the project was expanded to incorporate the hospital. With the support of Southampton Hospitals Charity (SHC), a Saints Foundation exercise practitioner is now based on the ward four days a week, working with older patients to improve their mobility, strength and balance – with the aim of getting them home from hospital sooner.
The rehabilitation starts at the bedside but includes group classes every day, helping to get patients moving through a range of physical and social activities such as basic chair exercises, a VR reflexes game, and short stints on adapted exercise bikes.
The surprise visit came from men’s first team striker Adam Armstrong as well as women’s team stars Ellie Brazil and Emma Harries, who met patients taking part in a class in the ward’s gym and joined in with their exercise warm up and activities.
Jake Batchelor, Saints Foundation exercise practitioner at UHS, said: “Supporting patients with frailty by enabling them to not only get moving, but also to enjoy the benefits of social interaction, is a vital part of their recovery.
“As well as helping to prevent deconditioning while in hospital, it’s an essential part of the journey to getting patients fit for discharge so they can return home to sleep in their own beds, supported by loved ones and surrounded by home comforts.
“The exercise classes make a real difference to our older patients and seeing the impact it has on both their physical and social wellbeing is incredible and very rewarding.”
Before patients are discharged from hospital, their ongoing needs are carefully assessed. Where appropriate, they are referred to ongoing community-based rehabilitation sessions designed to keep them active, reduce deconditioning and lower the risk of falls.
Southampton patients are referred directly to the Saints Foundation Falls Recovery Programme, while Hampshire patients are encouraged to attend Steady and Strong classes through a GP referral.
Adam Armstrong, reflecting on the visit, said: “It’s great to see the staff in the Medicine for Older People unit keeping people active when they’re in hospital. It’s very important work.”
Paul Hedges, Saints Foundation health project manager, said: "Saints Foundation presence in the MOP unit with Jake is a key part of our offering in the city, and this doesn't happen without working in partnership with the hospital and Southampton Hospitals Charity. It has been great to be able to bring the players in to see our work and share the joy in the lead up to Christmas."
Ellis Banfield, chief executive of Southampton Hospitals Charity, said: “Thanks to the generous support of our donors we have been able to support Jake and the incredible work he does with patients on the medicine for older people ward.
“The work happening with our older patients is more than just recovery focussed – it’s about building strength, confidence and enabling patients to see for themselves what they are capable of. Seeing people leave the hospital sooner and with a renewed sense of independence is truly rewarding.”