Exercise Referral Programme For Health Care Professionals
Exercise Referral Programme for Health Care Professionals at Active Blackpool
At Active Blackpool, we are committed to helping as many people as possible to improve their health and wellbeing and lead more active lives.
We know that being active plays an important part in patient’s health and wellbeing, but taking steps into activity can be daunting for people who are living with long term health conditions.
Our purpose is to provide support and guidance through a personalised programme ensuring that individuals are able to add activity into their lives in a safe and appropriate way for them.
The 16 week Exercise Referral Programme is a short term path into building long term and sustainable habits.
What pathways are included in the Exercise Referral Programme?
Our Exercise Referral Programme is sub divided into 9 distinct pathways. When accepted onto the programme, patients will be placed onto the pathway most suited to their circumstances to ensure they are assigned an instructor who is qualified to support their specific medical conditions. The pathways are:
- Cancer
- Cardiac
- GLP-1 / Weight Management
- Low Risk
- Mental Health
- Metabolic
- Musculoskeletal
- Neurological
- Pulmonary
What are the criteria for being accepted onto the Exercise Referral Programme?
Although the programme is aimed at people with existing mild to moderate medical conditions, it can also play a key prevention role for those who may be at risk of developing them.
To be eligible for referral, a patient must meet the following essential criteria.
- Aged 16 or over
- Registered with a general practice
- Sedentary or physically inactive
- Willing to actively engage with the Exercise Referral team
The following mild to moderate health conditions are recommended reason for referral onto the programme:
- Angina (stable)
- Anxiety/depression (mild to moderate)
- Asthma (controlled)
- Cancer
- Cardiac history (more than 3 months ago)
- COPD (controlled)
- Diabetes (controlled)
- Hypertension (controlled)
- Long Covid (referrals from BVH Only)
- Osteoporosis
- Overweight/Obese (BMI > 25)
- Parkinson’s
- Rheumatoid/osteoarthritis (mild to moderate)
- Stroke (more than 3 months ago)
This list is not exhaustive and if you have a patient with a different health condition who you feel would benefit from the programme, please get in touch with us on the form at the bottom of the page and a member of the team will get back to you to discuss this.
Which patients would not be accepted onto the Exercise Referral Programme?
The Exercise Referral Programme is not suitable for high-risk patients. Your clinical judgement is important, but usually those with the following health conditions would not be accepted onto the programme:
- Angina which is unstable or newly diagnosed (less than three months ago)
- Arrhythmia which is uncontrolled
- Anxiety / depression which is unstable or severe
- Asthma which is severe or poorly controlled
- BP greater than 180/100
- Diabetes which is uncontrolled
- Embolism which was recent (less than 3 months ago)
- Febrile illness
- Pericarditis or Myocarditis which is active
- Stroke or TIA which was recent (less than 3 months ago)
- Symptomatic heart failure which is uncontrolled
- Tachycardia (greater than 100 bmp) which is uncontrolled
- Thrombophlebitis
Can a patient refer themselves onto the Exercise Referral Programme?
We do accept self-referrals but only in very limited circumstances. Those self-referring must meet all the essential criteria listed above.
In addition, they will only be accepted if they meet the following criteria and have no other health conditions:
- Anxiety / depression (mild)
- Overweight with no complications (BMI >25 but <30)
If a patient refers themselves but has additional health conditions, we will need to decline their self-referral and ask them for a referral from a medical professional in order to ensure we are able to provide them safe and appropriate support.
What do the main touch points on the Exercise Referral Programme look like?
Initial contact following referral – We’ll reach out to the patient to invite them to a Welcome Meeting, assign them to the appropriate pathway and instructor. We’ll send them information on the programme and an initial assessment questionnaire to ensure we have the information we need to plan what their journey may look like.
Welcome Meeting – In this first to face meeting we will review the patient’s initial assessment questionnaire, discuss their medical history and their goals to ensure they are suitable for the programme. We’ll also talk about the programme in more detail, give them a facility tour, discuss what activities are suitable for them and book them an appropriate induction.
Induction – During the induction where appropriate, we’ll use EGYM’s technology to identify the patient’s appendicular lean mass, VO2 max, Visceral fat and flexibility to establish their baseline data before they start the programme. We’ll show them how the equipment we’ve suggested for them works and create them a personalised programme.
Week 4 Review – In their first formal review, we’ll check in with the patient’s attendance and discuss any obstacles they may be experiencing. We’ll touch on their goals to make sure we’re heading in the right direction and introduce additional activities where appropriate that they may want to add into their journey.
Week 8 Review – At the mid-point of the programme, we’ll meet the patient for another formal review where we will take new biometric measurements and compare the results to their baseline. This will allow us to establish if their activity levels are being effective, make any adjustments needed and again review their goals and activity programme.
16 Week End Of Programme Review – At the end of the programme the patient will meet with their instructor for the last time where we will take a final set of biometric measurements. We’ll review their end of programme questionnaire and discuss the effects of the programme and how they can maintain their activity levels moving forward.
What activities are included in our Exercise Referral Programme?
We have a wide range of activities available across all three of our leisure centres that patients can attend whilst on the Exercise Referral Programme. Not all of them will be suitable for everyone but we will tailor our recommendation to meet the individual needs and goals of all our participants.
How much does taking part in the Exercise Referral Programme cost?
It’s important that patients are aware there is a cost to participating in the Exercise Referral Programme.
We have worked hard to keep the cost as low as we can and offer different options to pay to keep the programme as accessible as possible.
- Direct Debit – £15 per month for 4 months
- Upfront Payment – £60 for 4 months
- Pay As You Go – £3.30 for each session/activity
Upon successful completion of the programme, we’ll also offer patients the opportunity to continue to stay active with us as part of our mainstream membership for the lowest monthly rate we offer at just £19.99 a month.
How are Referrals to the programme made?
If you fall into one of these categories and have a patient who fits the criteria for the Active Blackpool Exercise Referral Programme, to complete their referral, we will need you to submit a Referral Form.
We appreciate that we do ask you for a lot of details about the patient in the form, but it is essential we have all the necessary information about them in order for us to ensure we are able to provide safe and appropriate guidance and support to them whilst they are on their journey with us.
Get Involved in the Blackpool Active Health and Care Forum
The Blackpool Active Health and Care Forum brings together people working across health and care who are passionate about improving outcomes through prevention, partnership, and making movement part of everyday practice. We welcome a diverse range of roles, perspectives, and experiences, recognising the value everyone brings to improving health and wellbeing.
By getting involved, you will:
- Build connections with a broad range of colleagues and system partners
- Share experiences, insights, and learning from different roles, services, and communities
- Influence future approaches to prevention and population health in inclusive and meaningful ways
- Support the integration of movement into policy and practice that is accessible, sustainable, and impactful
The Forum provides a welcoming, respectful, and collaborative space for shared learning and open, constructive discussion among professionals. It is a trusted, partnership-focused environment, enabling honest dialogue and joint problem-solving.
If you work or volunteer in health and care in Blackpool and would like to be part of a more connected and inclusive approach to improving health and wellbeing, we would value your involvement. Together, we can help create a healthier, more active community.
For more information on how you can get involved email Info@movetogetherblackpool.org.uk
