The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital (RJAH) has installed new fitness equipment along their award-winning Path of Positivity, thanks to a grant from NHS Charities Together.
The Path of Positivity is an evolving green space designed to foster wellbeing for staff, patients, and visitors.
The Oswestry-based hospital has added an outdoor gym to the space, accessible for anyone to use, which includes a double air walker, a horizontal ladder, and a double cross-country skier.
Kate Betts, physiotherapy rehabilitation technician at the Midland Centre for Spinal Injuries (MCSI) and staff governor, said: "The Path of Positivity is an award-winning, accessible and wheelchair friendly wellbeing path, which is based on the field at the rear of the hospital.
"It provides a calming space for staff, patients and visitors to enjoy a walk or a break outdoors.
"Before the Path of Positivity, the field was such a huge space with a lot of potential that nobody could access – we’re so lucky to have had it reinvigorated and I hope that the addition of the gym equipment will benefit staff, patients and visitors for years to come."
Charity director, Victoria Sugden, said: "The Path of Positivity plays an important role at RJAH, offering an opportunity to spend time in nature, outside of a clinical environment.
"It’s been great to see that the gym equipment is being utilised already – the ability to exercise in the open air provides a whole host of physical and mental health benefits."
Long-term patient of the Midland Centre for Spinal Injuries and regular user of the Path of Positivity, Tony Willacey, said: "The outdoor gym is a fantastic addition to the path; I’ve learnt I’m able to easily wheel up to the equipment I can use and use it with the support of staff.
"The path is the perfect place to take time out from the ward, particularly when the sun is shining – I’m pleased to say that during one of my recent trips around the path I saw Royal Air Force Shawbury landing a helicopter during one of their training sessions!"
The path was made possible by NHS Charities Together's funding efforts, along with support from the hospital’s League of Friends and the Trust’s Estates team.
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