Patients and Staff Get Active in The Great Outdoors

A group of patients with a lived experience of cancer and a group of clinicians and NHS support staff had a unique experience on the River Tees as they took to the water in Bell boats piloted by Tees Active staff based at Tees Barrage International White Water centre.

The session was part of the Active Tees programme which has been funded by National Lottery funding by Sport England in partnership with Canal and River Trust and is exploring physical activity opportunities for individuals who have lived experience of cancer. The project is gaining valuable insight from individuals and health professionals with the long-term aim of developing a comprehensive and varied programme of physical activity opportunities based at Tees Barrage utilising the River Tees and the surrounding environment.

Alan Chandler, Macmillan Information and Survivorship Manager – North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust said “Myself, four colleagues and seven patients spent over an hour bell boating along the Tees. From start to finish everything was well organised and I have nothing but praise for the staff. They were knowledgeable about the wildlife and the surrounding area and made the whole experience fantastic.

Speaking to both NHS staff and patients everyone thought the whole experience was brilliant and would highly recommend it. One of the patients celebrated his birthday and said having the whole group sing happy birthday made for an absolutely memorable birthday.

Seeing the patients keeping active and enjoying the local outdoors was fantastic. Patients and staff all commented on how this was fantastic for both their physical and mental wellbeing. The patients finished the day with a hot drink and a chat about their great experience.

Thanks to the Active Tees and Tees Active for making this possible and highlighting the natural assets that are accessible to our patients which enables them to improve both their physical and mental wellbeing.”

Chris Gibbens, Tees Barrage International White-Water Centre Manger said “Active Tees is all about system change and developing new partnerships and ways of working. The River Trip and the conversations and energy around developing a physical activity programme for individuals with a lived experience of cancer is a great example of how Active Tees has enabled new partnerships to form and insight led projects are being developed for the benefit of the community.”

One of the lived experience patients summed up the day and outcomes that Active Tees are hoping to achieve by stating that “The afternoon Belboating made for the best day I have had in a couple of years. The time on the river was just right for us and to have happy birthday sung to me on the water made for an unforgettable memory. I am partially disabled, and I have breathing difficulties, but I was given all the help I needed and more by the staff, making it very easy for me to take part.”