What is it?

Exercise by referral is a comprehensive, 12-week programme of exercise supported by qualified leisure staff at local leisure centres or facilities. The service aims to increase exercise and activity for people wanting to improve their health and provides a positive introduction to active lifestyles.

Exercise by Referral helps people increase their physical activity levels in a safe and structured environment. 

Who is it for?

The exercise by referral scheme is aimed at people who have a pre-existing health condition and who currently do little or no physical activity but are motivated to move more and meet the eligibility criteria.

To take part in the scheme people must be referred by a GP or other qualified health professional (who has access to medical notes to check for contraindications) and the individual must meet the criteria below.

Your patients are eligible for the exercise by referral scheme if they are:

  • aged 18 or over
  • 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 and has at least 1 of the following health conditions

Eligible health conditions for referral into the programme are:

  • controlled diabetes type 1 and 2
  • controlled hypertension systolic (less than 180 and diastolic less than 100 mmHg)
  • hyperlipidaemia
  • controlled respiratory disease
  • 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*
  • cancer: pre-, undergoing- and post-treatment and has received a cancer diagnosis within last 5 years
  • post COVID syndrome - Referrals only accepted from Derbyshire Post COVID assessment service

*Please note: For all cardiovascular disease referrals an additional BACPR GP referral transfer form will be required to be completed by the referrer to ensure that the leisure team have the full client information.

Please request this form by email asch.llbd.info@derbyshire.gov.uk.

Anyone who is referred but does not meet the criteria will not be accepted onto the scheme.

However, they could be offered alternative support through our Live Life Better Derbyshire programme and leisure providers, but these may not be free of charge.

You can refer a patient or client into the Live Life Better Derbyshire service and the exercise by referral scheme by completing an online referral form.

For all cardiovascular referrals please email asch.llbd.info@derbyshire.gov.uk for the transfer form.

FAQs

Who can refer?

  • Any health professional such as your GP, practice nurse or social prescribing link worker, physio (who has access to medical notes) can refer you on to the scheme.
  • Referrals cannot be accepted from anyone who does not have access to the patients /individuals’ medical notes.

What is the offer?

  • Individuals will be referred to the local leisure facility where a tailored exercise programme will be devised for them. The scheme is 12-week duration, but the activities offered will differ at each leisure centre and local scheme. Activities will be tailored to the individual’s requirements, but this will be based on an initial assessment.

How much does it cost?

  • The initial 12 - week programme will be free to the patient. (There may be a minimum offer depending on district and centre – patients should receive a minimum of 2 sessions per week at no cost to a total of 24 sessions in the 12-week period)
  • On completion of the 12 weeks the patient will be offered information of local activities. Most sites will offer a discounted membership to encourage people to keep exercising.  This will be outlined by the exercise professional at the local scheme.

Where can I refer to?

  • The Derbyshire Exercise by Referral programme is delivered in all 8 district areas. However not all leisure sites deliver the programme.

Can I refer the patient more than once?

As a rule, repeat referrals cannot be accepted. Patients should only be referred once onto the programme. Repeat referrals will only be accepted if the patient has dropped out of the scheme due to personal problems, or if their medical condition has changed. The decision whether to accept re-referrals is at the discretion of each local facility and referral lead.