Date published: 01.09.08 - not release date

PATIENTS GET BACK ON THEIR FEET MORE QUICKLY AT SPIRE GATWICK PARK HOSPITAL

A new rehabilitation treatment for patients having knee and hip replacements at a local private hospital has cut their average length of stay by ten percent.

The treatment, set up by the physiotherapy team at Spire Gatwick Park Hospital, involves special exercises both before and after the operation and regular gait assessment.

The idea for the treatment came from Jackie Stayton, the hospital’s inpatient clinical lead physiotherapist, who wanted to see if she could accelerate recovery for joint replacement patients.

“Clinical evidence shows that fit strong patient get better more quickly than patient who are less fit so we decided to invite patients to an exercise class six weeks before the operation,” she said.

Before their operation patients spend six weeks working out at home. They then have their surgery followed by physiotherapy. Six weeks later they have individual assessments and sessions of circuit training exercises to increase strength and regain their full function and normal walking pattern.

“Some patients were keen to return to active sport, while others were struggling even to bend down to do up their shoe laces, so we tailored the exercises to suit each patient. We also helped them perfect a normal posture and gait, which is sometimes quite difficult after surgery,” said Jackie.

Spire Gatwick Park Hospital carries out 170 hip and knee replacements every year.


For more info please contact:

Simon Buttrum
Spire Gatwick Park Hospital
Tel: 01293 778981
simon.buttrum@spirehealthcare.com

Notes to editors:

Spire Healthcare is one of the leading independent hospital providers in the UK, with a 25 year heritage of customer service and clinical excellence. It was formed this year from the sale of BUPA Hospitals to leading private equity company Cinven.

Spire Healthcare has 25 hospitals across the UK, providing services for private and insured patients as well as NHS funded patients under the government’s Choose and Book scheme. It also offers cosmetic and weight-loss surgery.

Its hospitals carry out more than 160,000 in-patient and day-case treatments a year and work with over 3,000 consultants. It is proud to be the 1st independent hospital group to publish clinical outcome data.