Active Lifestyle Centres across South Gloucestershire have partnered with NHS GP surgeries to relaunch a scheme that helps and supports people with medical or long-term conditions to become more active.
The Healthy Lifestyle Referral Scheme has been developed for adults who are living with, or at risk of developing, a medical condition and qualify as inactive. A similar referral service was previously run by South Gloucestershire Council, until it was decommissioned in 2017. The Active Lifestyle Centres have since taken on the mantle, working with both South Gloucestershire Council and local GP surgeries to establish the scheme – which is already proving to be invaluable to both individuals and the wider community.
Currently, 1 in 4 adults in South Gloucestershire are classed as physically inactive, achieving less than 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity per week, and as a result are at a much greater risk of developing serious chronic diseases. The scheme aims to address this by providing individuals with a health and wellbeing consultation and on-going support in achieving their personal goals throughout a 12-week programme.
The scheme also supports the development of condition-specific exercise classes run by specialists, including sessions for those living with osteoarthritis or Parkinson’s. Aiming to promote an active mind as well as an active body, these group exercise sessions provide a social space for people to meet and chat, often with a common health goal.
Other referral schemes run in the UK have relied on only GPs for referrals. The Healthy Lifestyle Referral Scheme is also open to referrals from other health professionals, such as specialist nurses or physiotherapists. This is to target those who are inactive but do not have regular contact with their GP.
Jim Rollo, Healthy Lifestyle Referral Scheme Manager at Circadian Trust, said: “What makes our scheme unique is our commitment to removing the barriers that might prevent people from getting involved in physical activity. We have looked at creative ways that we can encourage people to get involved in a more active lifestyle, but for those with chronic health conditions, we understand that the barriers are substantial.
“To help break down these barriers, we have opened referrals up to other health care professionals and we have developed the group exercise sessions we have on offer. We now offer sessions which are tailored to specific conditions such as osteoarthritis or Parkinson’s. The social nature of these group exercise sessions is also important in opening up the world of fitness, as it gives those on the scheme the chance to talk about their health and wellbeing or simply catch up with familiar faces every week.”
There are currently five Active Lifestyle Centres operated by not-for-profit organisation Circadian Trust across South Gloucestershire – in Bradley Stoke, Kingswood, Longwell Green, Thornbury and Yate.
For more information on the Healthy Lifestyle Referral Scheme, please visit: https://activecentres.org/facilities/community-health-initiatives/healthy-lifestyle-on-referral-scheme/
