Can I get prescribed Gym sessions?

[jancol]

I am at early stage COPD and am currently recovering from another bout of pneumonia. I walk for my exercise but if it is cold I can't do that. I find the treadmill at the gym really beneficial but too expensive. Is it worth asking my new doctor about gym sessions?

[dorall]

In my area ( Scotland ) the Breath Easy Group give out 1 hour gym passes ( local council gym) for £2 a visit.

[Hidden]

yes I would, its called an exercise prescription..

If you have deconditioned a lot I would ask doc for referral to pulmonary rehabilitation first though.

[jancol]

Thank you all for your replies. I will certainly ask - they can only say no!!

[Hidden]

I am not sure which part of the country you are in but some of the local schools where I am open their gyms to the public in the evening. They are much cheaper than commercial gyms so may be worth finding out.

[Hidden]

Hi I went into my local gym and asked if i was referred by a dr would i get a discount. I asked my dr who did me a letter for them

Also in my area (Devon) you can get referred to a very cheap gym but as it was only during the day and I was working I couldnt go. The copd nurse referred me. Hope thats helpful.

[Hidden]

Hi Jancol, you've had some really good advice here.

An Exercise Referral Scheme (ERS) operate when a GP or other Health Professional advises a patient to do exercise as part of treatment or management for their condition. Note: ERS are called different names in different localities.

The HP makes a referral for exercise which goes to a is a central coordination point in the local authority, PCT or Health Board which receives all referrals from HPs and allocates appropriate exercise accordingly.

The referred 'patient' is then contacted by the referral coordinator, leisure centre or gym instructor to arrange an assessment.

The assessing instructor will be qualified with an Exercise Referral qualification.

Most schemes offer a batch of exercise sessions at the local authority gym, e.g. 6-12 weeks of free or subsidised exercise classes tailored for people with health conditions. At the end of the programme, 'patients' are encouraged to join non-health condition specific exercise.

Many local authority gyms offer a special reduced rate membership pass for people finishing exercise on referral schemes.

You may know about the specialist respiratory instructors that the BLF helped to train between 2007 and 2011? Many of these work within exercise referral schemes. You may also be able to get a referral straight to them. See the website if there is one in your area:

blf.org.uk/InYourArea

Good luck!