Page 9 - Community Health mag issue 2

www.kentcht.nhs.uk PAGE 9

GOING UP

GOING d

O

w

N

FT
mem
B
ership
6,841 public members
have now signed
up to our Trust.
Want to join? Visit
www.kentcht.nhs.uk.
200,000 miles
That’s how far our 2,000
walkers registered to our
Health Walks Scheme
have walked – the
equivalent of eight times
around the globe!
90%
improvemen
T

ra

Te
in clients’ emotional
health and wellbeing
after being seen by our
Child and Adult Therapy
Service. Find out more
on page 14. 90%

sTa FF sickness
Staff sickness absence
went down for the
first five months of the
year meaning more
continuity of care
for patients.
childhood
o
B
esi
T
y
Childhood obesity in
east Kent is bucking the
national trend and is
going down. Our family
lifestyle club Ready
Steady Go! is helping
families across east
Kent to get more active
and eat more healthily.
If you would like more
information phone
0800 849 4000 and
choose option 5
or visit our website
www.kentcht.nhs.uk.

K

NITTING

circles are popping up in
Kent as innovative, new support groups for
chronic pain sufferers.
The groups, which are free and often
in local tea shops and community venues,
were set-up by one of KCHT’s Alexander
Technique Teachers and knitting devotee,
Claudia Benson.
Knit a little peace into your life offers
patients the chance to learn a new skill,
with the rhythmic action of the knitting
taking their mind off of their physical pain.
Marina Edney, 40, from Westwood near
Ramsgate, suffers with chronic pain in her
lower back after a bad fall 15 years ago.
She said: “My accident has completely
changed my life. I had been in pain for
more than 15 years and did not know how
to manage it. It made me so depressed I
didn’t want to leave the house.
“I finally reached the end of my tether
and knew I had to do something so I was
referred to the Chronic Pain Service and
heard about these new knitting groups at a
pain awareness day.
“I now have something to look forward
to every week, that I love, that gets me out
of the house. The
friends I have made
are a fantastic
support.”

‘Knitting and a natter
is the new painkiller’

From left, Ally, l ynda, Nicola, Claudia, Rita and Marina enjoy
a natter while they knit in Corby’s Team Rooms, Ramsgate.

Nicola Lanham, 37, from Ramsgate, has
suffered with Fibromyalgia, a long-term
condition which causes pain all over the
body, and sometimes has to spend days in
a wheelchair.
Nicola said: “Knowing I have the group
to look forward to sees me through the
really tough days. There is always someone
there who understands how you are feeling.”
Claudia, who works all over east Kent
supporting patients to self-manage
their pain, said: “These groups provide
a community of like-minded people to
share your feelings with and because they
are concentrating on picking up the new
technique it is a very non-threatening
environment to sit and have a chat.
“We are not suggesting that knitting and
chatting will make these ladies pain-free,
but the wellbeing benefits are clear to see.
The brain can only think about one thing
at a time, so while you’re concentrating on
knitting, the pain recedes.”

Want to get involved?
The knitting group pilot project has
been financed by Grunenthal Ltd as
part of its innovative award scheme.
Find out more about our chronic pain
services at www.kentcht.nhs.uk/
chronicpain. For a knitting group
in your area phone Claudia on
07950 617501.

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