Our focus group and the campaign origins.
Back in 2023 James Leinhardt brought together a number of experts he had connected with through his work with the Hugga Sleep System. The focus group was a chance for people to share their enthusiasm for all things sleep posture and bed mobility! Louise Rogerson became the Clinical Lead for the project and took the initial agreed principles to create a Manifesto. The group worked together reviewing the information and sharing their feedback and additions to make the document work. Fitting this in around day jobs was challenging at times, but finally the Manifesto was shared with friends and finally approved by all concerned!
Our focus group included the following:
Farah Ayyub – Patient representative
Ann Jones – Patient representative
Vicki Beevers – CEO & Founder, The Sleep Charity
Dr Ambreen Chohan – Senior Research Fellow (Health, Innovation & Wellbeing), University of Central Lancashire
Chris Curtis – CEO, H&N Cancer Survivor and World Cancer Advocate, The Swallows Head and Neck Cancer Support Group Charity
Katie Leek – Lead for Tissue Viability and Continence
James Leinhardt – CEO, Levitex Posture Care and project initiator
Ayesha Marshall – Patient Safety Lead Nurse, South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
There were some long difficult conversations about what we do with the final document and how to get it out there……and so ‘Are you lying comfortably?’ was created. Louise has set up her own not-for-profit organisation ‘Pragmatic People Limited’ which hosts the campaign and will also spearhead the realisation of the ‘Calls to Action’. This means that the hard work can be provided free to all who want it, and updated as evidence emerges.
As well as encouraging people to think about their sleep positions more, we are also working with partners to develop strategies to deliver this change including delivery of education sessions, research projects, and service trials. We welcome enquiries from anyone who wants to learn more and join us in the drive for change.
Louise Rogerson
Louise is a Chartered Physiotherapist with almost 30 years experience working across hospitals, community settings and people’s own homes. Her specialty is older people and neurology with a keen interest in posture, pro-active care, long term condition management and palliative care alongside her passion for rehabilitation. Louise has worked in the ‘Sleep Posture’ world for the last 4 years joining Levitex in 2023 as their Allied Health Professional Lead whilst continuing to run her own physiotherapy business in and around South Manchester and Cheshire. Louise has published research in the area of Stroke rehabilitation as well as remote monitoring technology. Louise is also a member of the British Geriatrics Society Nursing and Allied Health Professionals Council working as a representative on the Policy and Communications Committee.
The campaign
Louise says: ‘I am so proud to introduce our ‘Are You Lying Comfortably?’ campaign. Starting as a focus group of interested clinicians, patients and carers sharing thoughts on challenges around sleep posture management within health and social care we have created a Manifesto to describe how we can make a real change for everyone. I have been up and down the country in the last 12 months talking to people about sleep and it is clear that whilst we all agree it is important, we aren’t really sure how to make it better! So here we are, a simple set of principles that we want to share as widely as possible and work collaboratively with partners to deliver these principles and make a comfortable night a reality for everyone. Please take a look at our messages and tell us what you think, pledge your support if you agree with us, and if able, please help us make this change happen!’
