A Paralympic gold medallist was the special guest as a special piece of rehabilitation equipment was unveiled at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary.
Staff working in the Intensive Care Unit at the RLI celebrated the official launch of their new over-bed rehabilitation bike with Stuart Robinson MBE.
The equipment, which enables patients to begin rehabilitation in a hospital bed, was unveiled during a special visit by Stuart who cut the ribbon and shared his own inspiring recovery story with colleagues and patients.
The equipment was purchased thanks to an ambitious fundraising effort by ICU colleagues and the generous support of Bay Hospitals Charity.
Stuart, a world champion wheelchair rugby player and decorated former RAF Corporal from Morecambe, said: “It was fantastic to launch the over‑bed bike and see it in action at the hospital. It’s a brilliant piece of kit that will make a real difference to patients beginning their rehab journey.”
Stuart is a member of the West Coast Crash wheelchair rugby team which competes in the GBWR (Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby) League Division One. He told the ICU staff that he discovered wheelchair rugby in 2014 during rehabilitation after being injured by an improvised explosive device on his fourth tour in Afghanistan.
That same year, he made an immediate impact at the inaugural Invictus Games in London, winning gold and earning a place in the GBWR talent development squad and the Paralympics GB Inspiration Programme ahead of Rio 2016. He captained the UK team at the 2016 Invictus Games in Orlando and again in Toronto in 2017, securing bronze and silver medals.
Stuart joined the GB Elite Squad in late 2016, contributing to Great Britain’s European Championship victories in 2017 and 2019. At the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Stuart played a key role in Great Britain’s historic gold‑medal triumph, the nation’s first in wheelchair rugby.
He was appointed vice captain of the national team in 2023 and has continued to compete at the highest level, including at the Paris 2024 Paralympics and subsequent European and international championships.
The ICU team members were delighted to welcome Stuart to the unit and to hear about his achievements. They told Stuart about how they had raised more than £3,000 through their ‘Rehab 500 Challenge’, a week-long walking and running event in which 43 colleagues completed more than 586 miles.
The team’s efforts, combined with a large contribution from Bay Hospitals Charity, enabled the purchase of the £12,000 MOTOmed over‑bed bike, which is already being used with patients.
Jonathan Lightfoot, a patient, was the first patient to try out the new over-bed bike as he was having specialist haematology treatment for a blood-related disease.
Jonathan said: “I found it easy to use and it was good to have a target and keep your muscles moving whilst confined to a hospital bed.”
Sarah Leadsom, Advanced Critical Care Practitioner in the ICU at the RLI, said: “The opening event was a wonderful occasion for everyone involved. We were absolutely thrilled to welcome Stuart to officially launch our new rehabilitation bike and for Jonathan to try it out.
“The event felt really special and uplifting for the whole team. I would like to thank every single person who supported our fundraising, from colleagues who took part in the challenge to former patients and members of the public who donated so generously.
“The new over‑bed bike will make a huge difference to our patients, helping them begin rehabilitation much earlier, maintain muscle strength and confidence and ultimately support their recovery back to independence.”
Suzanne Lofthouse, Head of Charity and Fundraising for Bay Hospitals Charity, said: “We are proud to help provide equipment that goes over and above what the NHS can usually fund. Donations from our community enable us to support patients with innovative tools like the over-bed bike, improving wellbeing and recovery at a time when they need it most.”
Sarah added: “We are planning to introduce challenges where our colleagues and patients can contribute miles together, turning rehabilitation into something fun and inspiring for everyone on the unit.
“We are excited to begin incorporating the bike into everyday care and look forward to seeing the long-term benefits for our patients.”
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