Exercise referral

What is exercise referral?

A referral pathway from GPs, physiotherapists and other health professionals to local leisure facilities for regular physical activity. Visit the patient guide to exercise referral for more information about what to expect on the scheme.

Who qualifies for exercise referral?

Patients must be inactive (less than 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity a week) and have one of these conditions that could be improved with regular physical activity:

• Obese or overweight
• Diabetes (type I and II)
• High blood pressure
• Raised cholesterol
• Osteoporosis
• Mild or moderate depression
• Mild stress or anxiety
• Arthritis
• Neurological conditions or Stroke (Mobile, no assistance required)
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
• Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)

With some of these conditions there is a restriction on which activities and centres you can access.

Guidance on what is available and suitable will be given once your referral has been received by LiveWell Richmond.

What services are available on exercise referral?

As well as a general exercise referral programme of gym based exercise and group classes, specific classes and instructors are available for the following conditions:

• Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)
• Cardiac Rehabilitation
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
• Falls Prevention

A health trainer service is also available for those who would like to get more active but are not confident about going straight into a gym or class environment. The health trainer will help you to look at your barriers to exercise and work with you to find the best type of physical activity for you.

Which leisure facilities offer exercise referral?

Exercise referral is offered at four facilities in the borough:

• Shene Sports and Fitness Centre
• Teddington Pools and Fitness Centre
• The Cambrian Community Gym, Richmond Hill
• Hampton Sport and Fitness Centre