Grant helps NHS buy fitness equipment for patients

A grant of £11,000 has funded new fitness equipment, helping patients at mental health wards across Leicestershire to exercise.

Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT) has been able to provide 19 inpatient mental health wards with equipment such as hula hoops and swingballs.

The Sport England grant has also paid for equipment that will allow patients to play table tennis, cricket, football and bowls.

Samantha Wood, head of service for mental health inpatients at LPT, said: "Access to physical activity is a vital part of recovery and wellbeing, and this support will allow our patients to experience the benefits of exercise in a safe and supportive environment."

"Alongside this, our patients benefit from a broad range of support, including our dedicated physical health nursing team, GP, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, enhanced therapy garden space, smoking cessation services, and substance use workers," Ms Wood added.

Activities coordinators have added sport sessions to ward timetables, which encourage movement and social interaction, the trust said.

Sport England provided the money from its National Lottery income, which will benefit wards, including the Bradgate Mental Health Unit at Glenfield Hospital in Leicester, and Steward House in Narborough.

The grant was applied for by LPT's inhouse charity Raising Health, which supports projects to improve patient care.

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