Do you qualify for the G.P Referral Scheme?
Do you qualify for the G.P Referral Scheme?
The role of physical activity in the prevention and management of ill health has led to its inclusion in a number of key health policy documents, including The NHS Cancer Plan and National Audit Office Tackling Obesity in England. G.P. Referral Schemes are one intervention that can be used to increase physical activity levels and therefore assist in the prevention and management of ill health.
A G.P. referral scheme or intervention is where an individual is referred by a health care professional to an exercise or physical activity programme, either leisure centre based or community based to increase their physical activity levels.
This may include referral to the typical G.P. referral programme, which is 10 weeks in duration and involves a partnership between health and leisure providers. However, this includes programmes where an individual is provided with a menu of opportunities by third party (e.g. Physical Activity Coordinator) to increase their physical activity levels. This may include referral to other existing schemes in order to choose which activities to participate in, such as health walks groups/cycle groups or leisure centre activities, e.g. swimming, bowling or badminton.
G.P. referral schemes have become increasingly popular over recent years and the Fitness Industry Association estimates that there are around 600 such schemes in England alone.
The proliferation of G.P. referral schemes has been borne out of new opportunities for collaborative services and initiatives for promoting physical activity and sport at community level. They fit in well with the new agenda for health improvement, and provide an excellent opportunity to address inequalities in health care, disease prevention, and enhancement of quality of life.
The G.P. Referral scheme is seen as a means of helping motivate people to become more physically active under the guidance of qualified exercise professionals. The majority of schemes target primary prevention of diseases and conditions such as coronary heart disease, stroke, obesity, type II diabetes, arthritis and common mental health problems, for example. A number of schemes also offer specialist provision for secondary prevention of disease, such as Phase IV Cardiac Rehabilitation programmes, under the guidance of BACR Phase IV qualified exercise professionals.
At Winners 2000 Gym we have started our very own GP Referral Project, Sunrise. Patients are referred by their doctors with goals such as improving the quality of life, weight loss and management, improved mood and wellbeing and to educate and reduce dependency on medication.
When you join Sunrise, your first session is a simple sit down and chat with a qualified G.P. Referral Instructor, who will give you tips on how to make big improvements with small changes to your day, how you eat and how much you move.
From there, you will take part in 2 group sessions per week, all supported by our instructors, for a period of 10 weeks.
Our aim is that after the 10 weeks you will feels the benefits of exercise long term and continue living a more happy and healthy lifestyle.
If you think this is something for you or you would like any further information please do not hesitate to contact me at becki@winners2000.co.uk.
Becki Young, Personal Trainer and GP Referral Instructor- Winners 2000 Paignton
