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Mater Hospital staff launch campaign to end 'PJ Paralysis'

Staff at Dublin's Mater Hospital are turning up for work in their pyjamas this morning. It's all...
Newstalk
Newstalk

11.50 29 Nov 2017


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Mater Hospital staff launch ca...

Mater Hospital staff launch campaign to end 'PJ Paralysis'

Newstalk
Newstalk

11.50 29 Nov 2017


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Staff at Dublin's Mater Hospital are turning up for work in their pyjamas this morning.

It's all part of an awareness campaign encouraging patients to, 'Get up, Get dressed, Get moving, Get Well and Get Home.'"

The hospital has warned that ten days of bed rest can result in a serious loss of muscle strength - affecting a patient's ability to return home and live independently.

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Clinical Nurse manager Ciara Dowling said a positive mental attitude plays a big role in physical health:

"It is really important for all our patients, in particular our older patients, to keep active while in hospital," she said.

 "It can help in their recovery phase.

"Ten days of bed rest is equivalent to ten years of muscle aging in a person over 80 years of age so this can be the difference between a patient going home and being independent, for example being able to climb the stairs at home, or loss of independence."

The campaign aims to improve patient's outlook during their stay in hospital and enhance their mental wellbeing as they , "take greater responsibility for their own health and become active participants in their personal health journey."

David Crosby received a double lung transplant in the Mater and ran the New York Marathon 20 months later:

Mater Hospital staff launch campaign to end 'PJ Paralysis'

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"I was told that you have to get fit and build yourself up for post-transplant and get out of the bed as quick as you can, get into your clothes and just move your body, get your circulation going and it will help your recovery," he said.

"I got off the bed after the transplant about two days, I got out of the Mater in 13 days and then I did a marathon about 20 months after so I took it on board completely."

Ms Dowling said a week of bed rest equates to a 10% loss in strength.

"We are encouraging our patients to wear their own clothes; we are encouraging them to be mobile," she said.

"People are less likely to feel unwell when they are in their own clothes and in fact, the slogan would be, 'PJs say your unwell while clothes say you are getting better.'"

Staff at the Mater will be wearing their pyjamas all day today to highlight the campaign. They are encouraging visitors, patients and families to get involved and help prevent what they call, 'PJ Paralysis.'


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