The new ‘Optimising Care’ campaign places patients at the centre of mobility support, promoting independence, dignity, and faster recovery while ensuring staff maintain the highest standards in safety and best practice.
This patient-centred approach, which is being piloted on the hospital’s Elm Ward, is a significant shift in how mobility support is delivered across the Trust. With the use of funding to secure specialised equipment along with training to support safe, effective implementation; patients can be mobilised sooner. By moving away from a standardised two-carer approach, clinical teams will be empowered to make individual risk-based decisions to support patients with a safe, single-carer approach where appropriate.
This mirrors care in the community and supports a more personalised, recovery-focused journey for patients as set out in the NHS 10-Year Health Plan for England.
Mark Collins, Moving and Handling Facilitator at The QEH, said: “This is about making movement meaningful again – not just functional. By supporting patient engagement in everyday mobility, we’re enhancing recovery, promoting earlier discharge, and delivering care with greater dignity.”
The QEH is the first NHS Trust in Norfolk to roll out this model, with Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals and James Paget University Hospitals preparing to follow. The initiative is aligned with the Trust’s wider ‘Let’s Get Moving’ campaign and reflects national best practice in person-centred rehabilitation.
This ambitious programme has been made possible thanks to collaboration with Norfolk Community Health and Care (NCH&C), Norfolk County Council, and the Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board (ICB).
Mel Furness, Moving with Dignity Team Manager at Norfolk County Council, said: “Through our work at Norfolk County Council on the Optimising Care project we were able to identify differences in equipment and moving and handling approaches between hospitals and social care. By bringing teams together, the project has helped create a more consistent and person-centred approach to supporting people as they move from hospital to home.”
This July, all ward-based clinical and therapy staff on Elm Ward will receive hands-on training led by Mark Collins, with a focus on using the new equipment and embedding patient-centred practice across all mobility interactions.
Sarah Jones, Deputy Chief Operating Officer at The QEH, said: “Thanks to the dedication of our teams and the leadership of Mel Furness we’re not only transforming practice – we’re transforming lives. We’re proud to lead the region in delivering safer, more dignified care for every patient.”
Liz Thorne, Transformation and Delivery Manager at the Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board, added: “We know how important it is for patients and their families to feel confident in the care they receive – especially when it comes to something as personal as mobility. This initiative supports a smoother, faster recovery and helps patients to retain their independence both in hospital and once they return home. It’s a great example of partnership working to make real improvements where they matter most. This is the ethos of the West Norfolk Urgent & Emergency Care Alliance which has sponsored Optimising Care as part of its programme of work to support our local patient population at Place.”
Ends. Notes to editors; For media enquiries only, please contact Communications Team, media.enquiries@qehkl.nhs.uk or 01553 613216. For all other enquiries, please contact QEH Switchboard on 01553 613613.
New equipment in use at The QEH includes:
- Sara Stedy – promotes patient participation during sit-to-stand transfers
- ReTurn – enables safe pivot transfers with minimal strain for patients and staff
- Drop arm armchairs – improve comfort and accessibility during transfers
- Vendlet system – supports in-bed movement, aiding discharge planning
- New hoist for Acute Medical Unit (AMU) – enhances safety where it’s needed most
- Slide sheets and manual handling aids – a full suite of tools for safe mobility support
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