![[APHA]](/images/logo_apha.svg){kind=logo}
Rehabilitation patients at The Wesley Hospital in Brisbane have a new free-wheeling way of improving their health and safety.
The hospital is the proud owner of a 'quarter car', made from cutting down an old ute found at the wreckers.
With a functioning door and seat, it is being used to help patients practise getting in and out of a car.
For 86-year-old Charlie, the "gym equipment" has certainly come in handy.
He was brought into the Wesley Emergency Centre by the Queensland Ambulance Service after waking in the night unable to move and feeling extremely unwell.
Doctors at The Wesley found Charlie was suffering from a blood clot near his brain and quickly started treatment to thin the blood.
Rehabilitation became a critical part of his recovery and has involved twice daily sessions to slowly improve his mobility and confidence to safely move around independently.
"With the help of rehabilitation, I'm making improvements every day," Charlie said.
"I needed two people to help me walk at the start but that's improving by doing different activities every day.
"The car has been great for me to practise getting in and out safely without touching the door. The team only ever ask me to do what's possible for me."
For many patients, it can be daunting to simply get in a vehicle and go home at the end of a hospital stay.
Getting in and out of a car safely is a skill, and often one that needs to be practised after a lengthy time in hospital.
The Wesley's Occupational Therapy Head of Profession, Stacey Johnson, said practising and gaining confidence to get in and out of the car safely was not only important for going home from hospital, but also for getting patients back into their normal activities as soon as possible.
"The rehabilitation car is a wonderful tool to allow patients to practise the correct techniques in a safe environment," she said.
"It's extremely important to get in and out of the car safely, and that may mean changing a habit. But ultimately it helps to minimise falls.
"Depending on the patient's circumstances, they might also be practising car transfers with different mobility aids, such as slide boards and their technique may need to be modified.
"Most importantly, patients think it's a bit of fun! It's definitely unusual to see part of a car inside the hospital, so that helps to make rehab enjoyable for our patients."
Read more: 'Life-changing' option for heart patients
Read more: Can 'Warrior' exercise help Parkinson's patients?
Next Safety And Quality:
25/8/2021 Clinical trials 'save lives and offer patients choice'
Previous Safety And Quality:
27/7/2021 Latest orthopaedic technology lands in Australia