The 12 week Southwark GP Exercise Referral service has been designed to help inactive people that are struggling with their mental and physical health. It does this by encouraging them to get more physically active both within the programme and beyond their participation and they are supported in taking more control over their own health.
There are three levels of support available:
Kickstart, Active Boost and Cardiactive, each offers different levels of support depending on what help you need.
Kickstart
Kickstart is the lowest level of support available and is ideal for people who are confident to exercise safely and independently. This level includes 12 week free access to 5 Leisure Centres in Southwark (SE5 Camberwell LC, SE22 Dulwich LC, SE15 Peckham Pulse LC, SE16 Seven Islands LC and SE1 The Castle LC) for using the gym without timetable restriction, going swimming and attending group fitness classes provided by Everyone Active.
Active Boost
Active Boost is the second level of support. This is for service users who need a little more support in boosting their confidence in managing their own exercise programme, as well as in exercising safely. This level includes 12 week free access to supervised group fitness classes from Monday to Friday (timetable provided) including gym sessions, aqua classes and circuit training to 5 Leisure Centres in Southwark (SE5 Camberwell LC, SE22 Dulwich LC, SE15 Peckham Pulse LC, SE16 Seven Islands LC and SE1 The Castle LC)
Cardiactive
Cardiactive is the highest level of support and is for people who did the most help. This programme has been designed for people graduating from phase three cardiac rehab in the last 6 months, as well as those who have had a cardiological assessment or review in the last six months. This level includes 12 week free access to supervised group fitness classes from Monday to Friday (timetable provided)a specialist cardiac rehab programme designed especially for each patient, gym and specialist circuit sessions to 4 Leisure Centres in Southwark (SE5 Camberwell LC, SE22 Dulwich LC, SE15 Peckham Pulse LC and SE16 Seven Islands LC) along with access to motivational support from the team
What does the Programme involve?
For a 12 week period, clients will be encouraged to build up their weekly activity levels through attending sessions at the centre of their choice.
All clients will take part in an initial assessment at the beginning and a completion assessment end of their 12-week programme. Once they have completed the programme, clients will be encouraged to independently continue with regular physical activity and will be provided with information on local activity opportunities. On completion of the programme, all clients will be entitled to a reduced leisure centre membership.
Clients will be followed up at 9 months from start date on the programme and offered advice and support where needed by an administrator or exercise professional where possible.
Who is Eligible for the Service?
- All adults aged 18 and over
- Residents of Southwark
- Or registered with a Southwark GP
- People currently doing less than 150 minutes of exercise each week
It’s also vital that they have no contra-indications to exercise and they must be clinically stable. Additionally, any patient with a cardiac condition can only be referred to the Cardiactive service.
Who can make an exercise referral?
- GPs
- Practice Nurses
- Specialist Nurses e.g. Health Check Hub, Cardiac Nurses
- Specialist Cardiac Physiotherapists
- Cancer Rehabilitation Team (GSTT)
- Renal Rehabilitation Team
- Referrals can be initiated by a mental health professional by telephone or letter to the patient’s GP whose authority is required, and who can then send a referral to the programme.
Make a referral using the professional referral form.
