Exercise by Referral Scheme

 Get active and learn how to manage your health condition safely

What is it and how can you benefit?

The Exercise by Referral scheme is a 12-week exercise programme for people with long term health conditions. Sessions are led by a fully qualified exercise professional and are suitable for beginners.

Being physically active has many health benefits, especially for people with long term health conditions such as improving mental health, regaining strength, reducing pain and learning how to manage a condition long-term to improve overall quality of life.

Eligible criteria:

There are certain criteria to be eligible for the scheme:

  • Being over the age of 19.
  • A Derbyshire resident or registered with a Derbyshire GP
  • Inactive, for example doing less than 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week
  • Have not been previously referred into the programme.

Eligible health conditions include:

  • Controlled diabetes type 1 and 2
  • Controlled hypertension systolic less than 180 and diastolic less than 100 mmHg
  • Hyperlipidaemia
  • Controlled COPD/emphysema/bronchiectasis or pulmonary fibrosis
  • Musculoskeletal conditions: joint replacement, simple non-mechanical low back pain, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis
  • Stroke/TIA
  • Diagnosed and stable mental health condition
  • Undergone an NHS Health Check and identified with a CVD risk of greater than 20%
  • Cardiovascular diseases such as myocardial infarction, chronic heart failure, heart surgery
  • Completed phase III cardiac rehabilitation programme
  • Cancer: pre-, undergoing- and post-treatment and has received a cancer diagnosis within last 5 years
  • Post Covid syndrome

You must be referred by a healthcare professional such as your GP, Physiotherapist, Practise Nurse, Hospital Staff or Community Mental Health Staff.


Once you have been referred, you will be contacted by an exercise professional who will invite you to one of the leisure centres for a 1:1 consultation to discuss your goals and what type of physical activity is best suited to you.

Venues

Rutland Leisure Centre – Gym and exercise classes - Please see timetable at Rutland Sports Park | LeisureCentre.com

West Park Leisure Centre – Gym, exercise classes and swim - Please see timetable at West Park Leisure Centre | LeisureCentre.com

Victoria Park Leisure Centre – Gym and swimming - Please see timetable at Victoria Park Leisure Centre | LeisureCentre.com

Sessions on offer

The programme runs for 12 weeks, and you can choose to attend the supervised gym sessions, or you can attend the gym, swimming and classes independently once you have had your 1:1 consultation with our exercise professional. Our qualified exercise professional will write you a programme and be there to support you.

How to refer

Arrange a visit with a healthcare professional who will run through the eligibility criteria and process your referral. Once the referral has been received, the exercise professional shall contact you to invite you in for your initial 1:1 consultation.

How to refer as a healthcare professional:

You can refer using the online form on the Live Life Better Derbyshire website using the link here https://derbyshirehealth.referral.org.uk/selfrefer