After a bout of glandular fever compounded by tonsillitis the young man was rushed to the accident and emergency department in by his parents when he had difficulty breathing earlier this year.

With his airways closed he was intubated (fully ventilated) by staff after being admitted to intensive care where he remained for 10 days.

“I had never been in hospital since I was born - it was all a new experience,” Mr Saunders said.

As part of an innovative approach adopted by hospital staff, instead of being sedated and confined to bed while he recovered, Mr Saunders was encouraged to exercise in intensive care.

But it was no simple task.

Supported by a whole team of physiotherapists, and nurses Mr Saunders gradually began walking while supported with breathing apparatus and several staff members

At first he began with a few steps, followed by longer walks along corridors of the unit where other patients lay gravely ill.

Acting head of physiotherapy Peter Young and his colleagues even brought a bike into the intensive care unit.

Mr Young said he believes Orange hospital is a pioneer in the way it treated Mr Saunders and other patients.

“Jamie’s early mobilisation is a fine example of the pro-active approach to intensive care we have here at the hospital,” he said.

“We originally put the video of Jamie’s rehabilitation together for a conference but it soon became clear it was a message of hope worthy of a bigger audience,” he said.

Orange hospital head of intensive care Dr Fiona Shields  said an integrated approach has been adopted at the hospital, where instead of patients automatically going to rehabilitation after spending time in intensive care, efforts are concentrated on bringing recovery treatment services to patients in the intensive care unit. 

“Our statistics of patients who don’t go to rehabilitation but are able to leave hospital are higher when compared to other hospitals,” Dr Shields said.

Mr Saunders said the whole time in the unit he was conscious and he is grateful to all the medical staff who helped in his recovery.

“An enormous effort went in to getting me well again.

“Some people think intensive care departments are all doom and gloom, but for me that wasn’t the case - everyone was so encouraging,” he said.

“It was an outstanding effort from everyone,” he said.

Clinicians and allied health staff captured part of Mr Saunders recovery and rehabilitation on film, to be used as an inspiration for other hospitals to adopt the model.

“With the approach we take here we want to get people back to their normal activity as soon as possible including work, even though we are an intensive care unit,” Dr Shields said.

janice.harris@fairfaxmedia.com.au