Attended Cardiac Rehabilitation regularly after my episode back in March then went back to work and although didn't attend thereafter, still popped in for a chat with the view to returning in the New Year now work commitments have changed. Unfortunately it's a 20 minutes drive and sods law, have been forced (voluntarily) to stop driving as my eyesight is worrying. Just realised I'm waffling but wanted to paint the picture. Anyway, we have a fitness centre 5 minutes walk away and I seem to remember that some years ago GP's could help fund sessions. Is this still the case?
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allanrobson
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Hello Allan... Unfortuneately rehab is a total postcode lottery. I did my initial eight weeks at a reasnobly local hospital (Phase 3). This was free. After some delay (unrelated surgery) I started rehab in the community (Phase 4). This was at a subsidised rate of about £4 per session. Unfortuneately I had to give it up because of increasing problems with my left hip (not exactly fun this getting older). I have been referred to "gym by prescription" but it on hold as I need to have a face-to-face to discuss some X-ray results. The "gym by prescription" requires me to join for a minimum of three months at £31 per month. Currently I feel reluctant in case after a few weeks I decide "this isn't working out"! Good luck!
Hello MichaelJH, the amount of times I've thought the same (not fun this getting older) but then think, hang on, it's better than the alternative. Merry Christmas and let's enjoy what we've got.
I think there were quite a few schemes probably 20 years ago where your GP could get up access to a local authority gym/leisure centre. Depending where you are some local authorities offer subsidised memberships, but I suspect most don't any more as these places are expected to pay their way these days
Ours our outsourced and it comes over as "make a large profit" not "not for profit"! You would think the councils would want to get people fitter! Best stop before I have a rant! 😡
20+ years ago there used to be a sign on the overhead gantry as you exited the Mersey Tunnel that proclaimed - Welcome to Wirral the Leisure Peninsula. As the council quietly busied itself selling off or closing down the leisure facilities the sign was unceremoniously removed!
Our council tried to close them all down until it was pointed out that they have a legal obligation to provide the service, so they're all still there, but increasingly the hours they open depends on the number of volunteers they can muster!
Our library also. Good thing I live across the street from ours so I can still manage to get in there on the seriously shortened hours but several friends who live farther out and are still in work are no longer able to use the library.
Mine is next door to the GP surgery, so that's quite handy! - Likewise when the pharmacist hasn't put my medicines together - the library is a good place to go for a while!
Thank you all very much. Seems to be doubtful but will now at least ask my GP (didn't want to bother then better). Merry Christmas to you all and a healthy happy new year.
You may well find that your local gym have special offers in the New Year. Also you say you still went in to your original one now and again so is there anyone else going there who lives near you and you could share petrol cost? Or are you on a bus route? I'm fortunate that the Phase 4 is in a room at my local gym so I can walk if I don't want to drive, but I obviously have to pay for it. (going up to £6 per session or £40 per month)
Unfortunately Dorset, whilst being a beautiful place to live, is very sparse on public transport in the small towns and villages. I do have a gym five minutes walk away so if need be will join that. As I mentioned I just wondered whether gp's still had the facility to help fund. Thanks for thoughts.
Hi Allan. I'm not aware of any way of getting subsidised gym membership, but, as others have mentioned, some gyms run a Phase IV class (phase III was the cardiac rehab) for around £4 a session. Give your rehab team a ring. They will be able to find out if your local gym does this, or where the nearest place is. If there's nothing local, then gym membership is always a good idea - get yourself a decent heart rate monitor watch & chest strap which many of the gym machines can read (I have a Polar watch & strap) so that you don't overdo it. Good luck xx
In the Wakefield area in West Yorkshire there are 5 leisure centres and you can attend any one of them as often as you like. They have prescribed rate, normal and senior rates. There are a lot of gyms in the area that are much more expensive but all are well attended. We’re pretty lucky really. That’s probably why I’m still here 😀
When I completed rehab, one of the instructors advised all leaving participants that he ran a continuation session. Unfortunately the time of the sessions was later in the evening, which was not convenient for me. I seem to recall the hour long sessions were £4 per week. There was no mention of a subsidy.
I enjoyed the rehab sessions as there was camaraderie between those participating as we were all in a similar situation. Unfortunately just attending gym sessions does not cut it for me. I have never particularly enjoyed going to a gym, so I now combine walking with exercise similar to rehab sessions using weights at home. While I don't get any social benefit from this, I do at least experience thebeauty of the countryside and open air and keep reasonably fit. My main love is when I can get up to Scotland to climb the mountains. As they say, each to his (or her) own.
Are you bagging Munros? I can't wait until I can get back out there to add to my tally! I live in NE Scotland so can (when cardiologist says ok) get back to it easily.
I don't focus on any class of hill, just any mountain, hill or pimple which is 150 metres prominent as I combine this activity with my interest in amateur radio - the scheme is called Summits on the Air. I wish I lived up in Scotland. It's a 300 mile drive to get even to somewhere like Galloway. Outings further north require a week to make them worthwhile.
Radio+climbing, what a super combination! I'm going to Google Summits on the Air to learn more about it, thank-you
So true about distances - when we go Down South we usually go waaaay down south (Devon and Cornwall) and if we don't have a fortnight to use for the away we usually don't go. I've been advised not to take a longer air flight than an hour until 'they' have me more sorted heart wise so I'm on hold for the noo.
My daughter lives in Cornwall. I have been known to return from there to the Midlands one day, then leave at 02:30 a.m. the next day to go walking in Galloway. Thankfully I do have a vehicle with cruise control. 😀
I was back on the hills 3 months after my heart attack - admittedly only 2,500 foot tiddlers. 😀 A year later I had a triple bypass (elective surgery) and once again was back on the hills after 3 months. All down to being reasonably fit before my heart attack and the fact that I have very little damage to my heart. The outdoors is my gym - it works for me.👍
I hope you soon get your passport for the hills.... and for flying. The combination of relaxation and exercise is powerful medicine.
In our area (Wigan) the doctor can refer you to the local council gym where you get a subsidised rate, currently 4.10p per gym session - monthly rates available. Been doing it this way for over 3 years now.
We have a programme here called up and active. It's free but you have to be referred by a GP. As I couldn't have cardiac rehab I'm hoping to start this in the New Year. HOwever their fundingf has been cut next year by 75%. Ask at your GP surgery if there's something similar.
Social prescribing is part of the NHS Long Term Plan. See following quote from Government document on the issue "Social prescribing and community-based support is part of the NHS Long Term Plan’s commitment to make personalised care business as usual across the health and care system." Not sure whether it's yet a reality or whether it will ever be more than wishful thinking. As others have said your GP will know how the land lies in your neighbourhood.
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