Nuffield Health is rolling-out a free exercise rehabilitation programme for people living with a broader range of long-term health conditions – including cardiovascular, metabolic and respiratory disease, as well as those living with musculoskeletal conditions.
It is already live in 11 locations and will be scaled to offer 50,000 free places nationwide each year by 2027.
Access to the programme will initially be through referrals from a local GP, pharmacist or another healthcare professional. The programme is available to people living with health conditions and experiencing chronic pain, long-term fatigue, or breathlessness.
The programme has been developed in partnership with experts from Manchester Metropolitan University at the Manchester Institute for Health & Performance (MIHP) and builds on the success of its joint pain programme.
Davina Deniszczyc, charity and medical director at Nuffield Health, said: “Exercise is one of the most powerful forms of medicine we have – if it was a pill then everyone would take it. Unfortunately, it’s under prescribed – and we need to change that.
“This programme gives people in Greater Manchester access to safe, expert-led exercise that can transform their health and improve their quality of life.
“By making it free and widely available, we’re helping people to significantly reduce their pain, regain independence and get back to the things they love while supporting the NHS.”
Professor Tim Cable at Manchester Metropolitan University, added: “Our analysis shows the huge potential of structured exercise to transform how we manage and treat long-term conditions.
“Greater Manchester can lead the way and our research partnership with Nuffield Health aims to build on the successes of these existing programmes to support people living with a much wider range of conditions.
“If scaled, the benefits could be enormous: improving lives, reducing demand on the NHS, and unlocking billions more in social and economic value.”
