Blue Skies' buys show our care for patients

14 February, being Valentine’s Day is all about hearts – but this week is also Cardiac Rehab Awareness Week and the importance of caring for your heart through physical activity after a cardiac event.

With the help of Blue Skies, our Cardiac Rehab team have funded equipment for home use and for community venues between St Annes and Thornton, enabling patients who would otherwise be unable to attend, to take part in our Heart Failure ‘REACH’ programme. REACH is Rehabilitation Enablement in Chronic Heart Failure. REACH offers a 12-week programme of exercise and advice.

The new equipment includes Bluetooth speakers for the community venues and DVD players so that patients can complete a programme of exercise from the comfort of home. The funding has also paid for a weights rack at the Layton venue.

Maria Boyle, the Trust’s Cardiac Rehab Manager said: “We’ve always had a face-to-face programmes but this initiative has allowed us to offer a home-based service for those who are less mobile”.

One of the programme’s patients said: “I’ve learnt so much about my condition and you’ve shown me how important exercise is for it. I’m definitely going to keep going with the next level of the programme. Thanks again for all your support”.

Thank you to Blue Skies for helping us make a difference to our patients, not just on Valentine’s Day but every day.