Exercise Referral: Active & Healthy 4 Life scheme
Cambourne, Comberton, Impington, Melbourn, Sawston, Gamlingay, Linton and Swavesey sports centres are now taking new referrals. Please see details below.
The Active & Healthy 4 Life exercise referral scheme is designed to create a positive change through exercise for those patients with specific medical health conditions. The benefits are seen through attending regular exercise sessions of at least twice a week in addition to and enhancing daily life activities. The aim being that this is the start of the patients journey to include exercise as a regular part of daily life.
The Active & Healthy 4 Life scheme consists of the following:
- An initial assessment with a qualified referral instructor
- A personal exercise programme to follow in a gym environment
- Patients are encouraged to attend a minimum of 2 sessions per week agreed with the instructor
- A progress review at the end of the first month, with guidance provided by the instructor
- Access to other classes/sessions on offer at the sports centre (providing health condition and progress means this is appropriate), with guidance provided by the instructor
- Optional attendance at the set sessions.
- Regular contact with the instructor.
- A final assessment at 4 months is undertaken with the instructor and the patient discharged from the scheme.
- The patient is encouraged to continue exercising at the sports centre and with activities established in daily life.
All instructors are qualified to level 3 exercise referral, to support you with the medical conditions that the scheme is designed for.
Who is it for?
The scheme is for adults with one or more of the following medical conditions:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Depression
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Back pain
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Joint replacement
- Osteoporosis
- Asthma
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Diabetes
Referring information for GPs and other Health Professionals
Active & Healthy for Life is our exercise referral scheme. It operates in accordance with the Department of Health’s National Quality Assurance Framework (NQAF) for Exercise Referral systems.
Referrals can be made by the below people by completing a referral form [PDF, 0.2MB]:
- GPs
- Other medically qualified professional working at a GP surgery / medical centre
- Social prescriber / health coaches
- Health professionals for example physiotherapist, diabetes nurse, dietitian or a mental health professional
The completed and signed referral form should be given to the patient as he or she will need to take this to their initial assessment at a participating sports centre. It is the patient’s responsibility to contact the sports centre of their choice and make an appointment for their initial assessment.
To find out more about the scheme, please contact AandH4L@scambs.gov.uk.
Prices
Cost to join the scheme and what is included:
- £20 per month for 4 consecutive months paid to the sports centre by direct debit (except Cambourne)
- 2 Sessions per week for 4 months
- An initial and final assessment, a review after 1 month
- As a member of the sports centre the patient will have access to other activities as guided by the instructor
- The patient is encouraged to continue as a member of the sports centre after completing the scheme, with all the benefits that is included in their membership package (this will be discussed with them at the final assessment)
How to get on the scheme
Access to the scheme is by referral from a GP or another health professional such as a physiotherapist, nurse or your surgery social prescriber / health coach. You can ask to be referred, and if your health professional is happy to refer you, he or she will complete the referral form and give it to you. You then make an appointment at the sports centre of your choice for an initial assessment.
Bring the referral form with you to your first assessment.
The benefits of exercise
The Chief Medical Officer called exercise a ‘wonder drug’ or ‘miracle cure’ (Annual Report 2009).
Regular physical activity reduces shortness of breath in people with COPD and increases their ability to exert themselves. It lowers blood pressure and leads to reductions in cholesterol levels. There is a wealth of evidence showing the effectiveness of exercise in the treatment of depression. It has a significant beneficial effect on blood sugar level and works well as a treatment for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Osteoarthritis is sometimes thought to be related to “wear and tear” yet physical activity improves symptoms of osteoarthritis by up to 83% and does not lead to worsening of this condition. It has benefits in reducing pain, increasing function, improving quality of life and mental health. Exercise can lead to improvement in low back pain and increase muscle strength and co-ordination.
This information is taken from the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges Report: Exercise: The miracle cure and the role of the doctor in promoting it, (February 2015)
Centre contacts
The following Active & Healthy 4 Life sports centres are now taking new referrals.
Cambourne Fitness and Sports Centre
Contact telephone number - 01954 714070
The recommended times to call are Monday to Friday 6am to 9pm Saturday & Sunday 8am to 4pm.
Initial assessments take place by appointment with the referral instructor - Monday & Wednesday 3.30pm to 5.30pm
Set gym session times when a referral instructor is present are Tuesday & Thursday 9am to 10am.
Gym/sports centre opening - Weekdays 6am to 9pm, Weekends 8am to 4pm.
Comberton Fitness Centre
Contact telephone number - 01223 264444
Email contact - com-csaenquiries@combertonvc.org or cwilson@combertonvc.org
Recommended times to call - For Chloe Wilson most mornings other times leave a message for her.
Initial assessments take place by appointment with the referral instructor - Mondays 10am to 11am.
Set gym session times when a Referral instructor is present – Every Monday 11am to 12pm.
Gym/sports centre opening – Weekdays 7am to 9:45pm, Weekends 8am to 4:45pm.
Impington Sports Centre
To join the scheme, contact Ryan Baxter - sports centre - sportscentre@ivc.tela.org.uk
Initial assessments take place by appointment with the referral instructor.
Set gym session times when a referral instructor is present – Tuesday 12 to 1pm & Friday 4 to 5pm
Gym /sports centre opening – Monday to Thursday 6.30am to 10pm, Friday 6.30am to 9pm, Saturday 8.30am to 5pm, Sunday 9am to 5pm
Melbourn Sports Centre
The scheme has been temporarily suspended, and apologise for any inconvenience.
Please contact the Scheme Coordinator if this is your only option – AandH4L@scambs.gov.uk
Anglian Leisure Sawston Sports Centre
Contact telephone number – 01223 712555
Recommended times to call - Tuesday 7am to 12:30pm, Wednesday 7am to 3pm, Thursday 3pm to 10pm.
Email contact - fharrower@sawstonvc.org
Initial assessments take place by appointment with the referral instructor – suitable time arranged.
Set session times when a Referral instructor is present - Wednesday 11am to 12pm.
Gym/sports centre opening times – Open Monday to Thursday 7am to 10pm Friday 7am to 9pm, Saturday 8am to 5pm, Sunday 9am to 4pm.
Swavesey Sports Centre
Contact telephone number - 01954 234 453
Recommended times to call – Weekdays 5:30pm to 9:30pm Weekends 9:30am to 12:30pm.
Email contact – sport@swaveseyvc.co.uk
Initial assessments take place by appointment with the referral instructor – Monday to Thursday 5:30pm.
Set gym session times when a Referral instructor is present – Monday to Thursday 3.30pm to 4:30pm & 4:30pm to 5:30pm.
Gym/sports centre opening – Weekdays 5:30pm to 9:30pm Weekends 9.30am to 12:30pm.
Gamlingay Leisure
Contact telephone number - 01767 651785
Email contact - info@gamlingayleisure.org.uk
Initial assessments take place by appointment with the referral instructor – suitable time arranged Monday 09:30am to 1pm
Set session times when a Referral instructor is present - Monday 9:30am to 1pm
Gym/sports centre opening times - Weekdays 9:30am to 1pm and 5pm to 9pm Weekends 9am to 1pm
Anglian Leisure Linton Sports Centre
Contact telephone number - 01223 890248
Recommended times to call – Weekdays 3pm to 10pm Weekends 8:30am to 5pm.
Email contact - linton@anglianleisure.co.uk
Initial assessments take place by appointment with the referral instructor – suitable time arranged.
Set session times when a Referral instructor is present – None currently, Patients attend during opening times.
Gym/sports centre opening times – Weekdays 3pm to 10pm Weekends 8.30am to 5pm.
Cottenham Sports Centre
The scheme has been temporarily suspended, and apologise for any inconvenience.
Please contact the Scheme Coordinator if this is your only option – AandH4L@scambs.gov.uk
Anglian Leisure Bottisham
Contact telephone number – 01223 811121
Email contact – jjamieson@bottishamvc.org
Initial assessments take place by appointment with the referral instructor
Gym/sports centre opening times – Weekdays 4pm to 10pm, Weekends 8am to 4pm
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