From Bupa, to the Hawks, to Peter Mac – the travelling sleep pod
This particular sleep pod has had an interesting journey to its new home; a journey of caring and sharing.
After a long journey, a Bupa sleep pod has arrived at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre to help patients, their families and carers, to rest, relax and unwind.
Lack of sleep and sleep deprivation can cause fatigue, poor concentration, mood disturbances, and poor physical coordination.[1]
Sleep pods help you rest and relax. The unique “chair helmet” design and soothing music enables users (or sleepers) to break from their busy or tiring day.
This particular pod helped customers at Bupa’s George Street retail centre in Sydney hit the snooze button.
In the mid 2000s Bupa offered the sleep pod to the Hawthorn Football Club, Bupa's Official Health Partner for over 20 years.
The Hawks eagerly took up the offer, with then General Manager of Football Operations, Chris Fagan, saying it provided players with the opportunity to freshen up physically and mentally during long training days.
“The ability to think, listen and learn is enhanced whilst tired muscles have the opportunity to recover between sessions. There is also the added benefit of relaxation and stress relief,” Chris Fagan added.
We can’t help but wonder if the sleep pod played a small part helping the Hawks win the AFL Premiership that year?
The sleep pod was enjoyed by Hawks players for several years, before again moving to a new home at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.
It's now in Peter Mac’s Wellbeing Centre, which is a sanctuary from treatment and the stresses of cancer.
The Peter Mac describes it as "a place to relax, to get emotional and practical support and complementary wellbeing therapies."
"We hope to improve the physical and emotional wellbeing of everyone who enters the wellbeing space.”
The sleeping pod is in the right place!
Bupa is proud to have provided the pod to Peter Mac, and hopes patients, their family members and carers will get something from it.
[1] Department of Health & Human Services, State Government of Victoria, Better Health Channel https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/sleep
