STAFF at Bromsgrove Sport and Leisure Centre are encouraging people to take advantage of its GP referral scheme which has recently been given an upgrade following a partnership with an NHS-approved fitness app.
The main aim of the scheme is to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals by promoting and providing opportunities for increased physical activity, specifically for people with defined medical conditions.
Bromsgrove Leisure Centre, managed by Everyone Active in partnership with Bromsgrove District Council, is now running its GP referral scheme in partnership with the NHS health app EXi.
It helps those with – or at-risk of – chronic conditions to safely increase their activity levels and improve their health.
Russell Harris, Bromsgrove Leisure Centre’s fitness manager, has led the GP referral scheme since its launch in 2017 and has already helped a number of people, including Neil Edwin.
Neil has attended the centre for four years after joining via the GP referral scheme.
He said: “I have found the course very rewarding and enjoyed the support the staff have given me.
“I look forward to visiting the centre for a gym session, a chat and a coffee.
“Mental health is as important as physical health and I have found my time at the leisure centre to have been of great benefit to my overall wellbeing.”
Contract manager at the centre Lloyd Barraclough added: “Our mission is to ensure everyone in the local community and can enjoy and maintain at least half an hour of physical activity, five times a week.
“The GP Referral scheme allows us to support individuals with a range of health conditions to engage in exercise which will benefit both their health and physical wellbeing.”
Once referred by their GP, Everyone Active creates a 12-week personalised and progressive programme with one-to-one guidance from the centre’s fitness manager. The programme is regularly reviewed and adapted to support the needs of the individual.
The scheme covers a variety of conditions, including asthma, arthritis, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, depression, anxiety, osteoporosis and others including rehabilitation from Covid-19.
Coun Michael Thompson, whose portfolio includes leisure, said the council was committed to improving the health and wellbeing of communities via this scheme and other activities.
“It’s great to see the difference which this partnership project has already made to the health and, and indeed, lives of our residents.”
Visit: everyoneactive.com/centre/bromsgrove-sports-leisure-centre/ for more.
