Fenland District Council (FDC) is offering help to people that want to achieve their fitness goals and kick-start a healthier New Year.
GP’s in Fenland can now prescribe a personalised 12-week fitness programme delivered by the FDC’s New Vision Fitness leisure centres.
Individuals over the age of 16 with conditions such as diabetes, obesity and mental health are being urged to talk to their local health professional about the referral scheme.
Cllr Mike Cornwell, the council’s portfolio holder for health and wellbeing, said: “The referral scheme supports us in our aim to reduce health inequalities in Fenland.
“It not only helps control some health conditions and limit the regression of illnesses but also reduces the number of visits needed to GPs and hospitals and reliance on medication, therefore reducing the cost to our NHS.”
Activities on the course include exercise classes, gym-based workouts, water-based exercises and condition specific sessions and can be undertaken at any of Fenland’s four leisure centres in March, Chatteris, Whittlesey and Wisbech.
Cllr Cornwell added: “Being able to get out and use our leisure centres also enable patients to socialise and make new friends while improving their health.”
In the last two years the programme has helped more than 300 people referred from local services, with the majority reporting that they felt healthier following the programme.
Success stories include people helped back to fitness after operations and those who have gone from sedentary lifestyles to becoming active gym members.
Health professionals can refer patients over the age of 16 years of age with any of the following conditions:
• Diabetes (Type 1 & 2)
• Obesity (BMI > 30)
• Cardiac Rehabilitation
• Hypertension
• Mental Health
• Respiratory (including Asthma)
• Smoking Cessation
• Multiple Trauma/Injury
• Muscular Skeletal
• Neurological
GPs and health professionals can also refer patients with other conditions that they feel would benefit from the programme.
Cllr Cornwell added: “We would urge anyone wanting to be referred to the programme to speak with their GP or health professional to discuss it in more detail.
“We would also like to see more health professionals take advantage of the programme.”
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