Hospital patients in Salisbury able to "walk on the moon" thanks to Stars Appeal

They've upgraded facilities at a rehab centre

Author: Jack DeeryPublished 17th Dec 2020

£105,000 of Stars Appeal funding has allowed patients at Salisbury District Hospital to cook, climb and "walk on the moon".

The charity have funded some brand new equipment and facilities at the Wessex Rehabilitation Centre.

These include a therapy kitchen, a bouldering wall and an anti-gravity treadmill, which is the only one available in NHS rehab centres across the South West.

The new bouldering wall

It see's patients zipped into the treadmill, which inflates around them and lifts them, supporting their body weight up to 80% which is the equivalent of walking on the moon.

This helps people who are recovering from serious injuries to allow them to walking pain free quicker than they usually would.

Meanwhile, the therapy kitchen will help patients re-familiarise themselves with everyday tasks that their illness and injury may have stopped them from doing.

Andy Matthews, Manager of the Wessex Rehabilitation Centre, said:

"What has happened to patients to lead them here is life-changing. We help to change their lives for the better. These innovations would never have happened without Stars Appeal donors. They will make a huge difference to how we help patients in the future. I’d like to thank everyone who supports our brilliant Hospital charity."

The anti gravity treadmill is the only one in NHS Rehab centres in the South West

A generous donation from Christopher and Frances Wain OBE paid for the bouldering wall.

They said:

"The Rehab team do a fantastic job, and we could see the important part a bouldering wall would play in restoring patients' self-confidence. Moving sideways instead of climbing is much more practical if the patient is recovering from, say, an upper limb or hand injury, or has been left physically weakened by a prolonged period in intensive care. Now that the installation is complete, we hope the wall will help support recovery for many patients."

Instead of sending gifts to the Hospital this year, the Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust are asking people to donate to the Stars Appeal.

Due to the pandemic, they are unable to receive physical gifts so the best way to support them is give money to the charity.

You can do this by visiting their dedicated Just Giving page.

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