Stronger for Life in Hospital Project expands across Sussex

An innovative project designed to keep hospital patients active and independent during their recovery is now reaching more people than ever before, thanks to a Sussex-wide approach to rehabilitation.

The Stronger for Life in Hospital project is helping patients across acute and intermediate care wards (ICW’s) maintain strength, mobility and confidence while in hospital – tackling the serious effects of deconditioning through physical activity, technology and teamwork.

Keeping people stronger for life

First launched in August 2024, the original phase of the project saw Active Sussex health instructors, provided by 20/20 Health and supported by Active Rother, working alongside East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust physiotherapists and support workers at the Bexhill Irvine Unit. Together, they ran exercise sessions for patients to help reduce the harmful effects of inactivity during hospital stays.

Following the success of that pilot, the project has now developed further.

Exercise sessions led at the Irvine Unit are being live-streamed into multiple hospitals across Sussex, allowing many more patients to take part from their wards and benefit from guided movement and gentle rehabilitation.

Hospitals currently involved alongside the Irvine Unit include the Intermediate Care Unit (Caravelle Ward) at Crawley Hospital, the ICW (Devonshire) and the Acute Stroke Unit at Eastbourne District General Hospital, the Comprehensive Stroke Unit at University Hospitals Sussex in Brighton, and the Rehabilitation Unit at Rye Memorial Hospital.

A new model for rehabilitation

The Stronger for Life in Hospital project is part of a growing movement across Sussex to deliver a “one workforce” approach to rehabilitation, where NHS staff, voluntary partners and community organisations work together to achieve the same goal.

Karen Poole, Allied Health Professions Rehabilitation Consultant at East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust and Clinical Director for Rehabilitation & Intermediate Care at NHS Sussex, said: “We are delighted to be working again with our partners at Active Sussex and 20/20 Health to deliver the next phase of the Stronger for Life in Hospital project.

“In the first stage, we tested a new way of working with our Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise (VCSE) partners to deliver activity sessions within hospital wards.

“The aim was to keep people active while in hospital and reduce the risks associated with deconditioning, helping patients feel stronger, more confident and improving their mental health.

“Through the success of that phase, we’ve seen an opportunity to test a ‘live-stream’ model across multiple hospital sites. This means more patients across Sussex can participate in these group sessions.

“We’re also exploring how student healthcare workers and exercise instructors provide a vital role alongside healthcare staff  to improve capacity and patient outcomes. It’s a real example of shared learning and innovation in practice.”

Collaboration and innovation across Sussex

Behind the scenes, the project has been made possible through collaboration between three NHS Trusts, Active Sussex, 20/20 Health, and local partners.

New governance arrangements were created to support two-way streaming, and 20/20 Health supplied equipment and training to ensure each participating site was ready to go.

Jas Gray, from 20/20 Health said: “Before we started delivering the sessions, I felt it was important for me to meet each member of staff and hospital setting that was part of this initiative.

“It’s amazing to see how, with the help of technology, we can have a greater impact across Sussex, and hopefully, this can grow even larger.

“We can receive feedback on the class straight away through the chat system, so we can make adjustments and improvements to the experience almost immediately.”

This collaborative model supports a “one workforce” approach, enabling NHS colleagues, support workers and community partners to share knowledge and capacity.

By empowering support workers to lead on activity sessions, more specialist staff can focus on complex rehabilitation needs, maximising clinical capacity while keeping patients active.

Ross Joannides, Strategic Relationship Manager for Health at Active Sussex, said: “The Stronger for Life in Hospital project is a brilliant example of what can be achieved when we work as one Sussex system.

“By combining NHS expertise with the skills of our community and voluntary partners, we’re creating a stronger, more flexible workforce that can reach more patients. This collaboration shows how technology and innovation can help people stay active and recover better during their hospital stay.”

Movement that makes a difference

The live-streamed sessions are upbeat, social and motivating. Sue Hull, a health instructor from 20/20 Health, leads the exercises wearing a headset and microphone, visible to patients across the participating hospitals via screens and cameras.

Balancing those in the room with those joining virtually, she brings energy, humour and encouragement to every session.

“My job is to entertain them for an hour and get them moving,” said Sue. “Smiling and laughter are great for everyone, and it’s so rewarding to see people improving. It’s the best job I’ve ever had.”

Jules Neuss, Service Manager at East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, said the sessions have had a clear impact: “The laughter I hear coming from the sessions is fantastic.

“Patients love it, and it’s so lovely to hear joy and motivation in a setting that can be challenging for people when progress feels slow. It’s fantastic that we can do this as a collaboration.”

Patients have echoed that enthusiasm.

Josephine Liegaux, 85, who has had two strokes this year, said: “I found it very beneficial. It was hard and tiring, but I don’t want to be sitting in bed all day.”

Her daughter Joanne Edwards, who joined her during a session, added: “It was wonderful to see Mum taking part in rehab and to be able to witness her progress. I found it beneficial myself.”

Associate practitioner Luka House supports the sessions at the Bexhill Irvine Unit, and said: “It’s great to connect different hospitals and give patients with similar conditions the same opportunities. It helps motivate people when they see what’s possible and realise that being active can actually be enjoyable.”

And Janet Wood-Howarth, one of the participants, summed it up simply: “It’s great – it really breaks up the day.”

Why staying active matters

Even short periods of bed rest can have a big impact on the body. Research from the Acute Frailty Network shows that within just 24 hours of lying still, people can start to lose muscle strength and fitness.

After a week in bed, muscle power can drop by up to 10%, and circulation and breathing capacity can decline significantly.

Beyond the physical effects, inactivity can also reduce people’s confidence, independence and overall sense of wellbeing.

By keeping people moving through group exercises and social interaction, the Stronger for Life in Hospital project helps patients stay stronger, recover faster and feel more positive during their hospital stay.

Looking ahead

While currently focused on acute and intermediate care wards, the project team is already considering how this model could be extended to other hospitals and care homes  in Sussex and support patients after discharge – potentially streaming sessions into people’s homes to encourage continued activity and independence.

For now, the project stands as a shining example of innovation, collaboration and compassion in action.

“We’re showing what’s possible when we think differently about rehabilitation,” said Ross. “By working together and making smart use of technology, we can deliver better outcomes for patients and create a stronger, more connected Sussex workforce.”

The Stronger for Life in Hospital project is funded for six months through Active Sussex’s Stronger for Life programme, in partnership with East Sussex Health and Social Care.