In these times, when NHS spending is at full stretch, when the news is full of "statins for all", bariatric surgery for the obese and the fact that the incidence of dementia can be hugely reduced by regular exercise, it is only right that the NHS publicises its own jewel in the crown, the NHS Couch to 5k running programme. This simple training plan has totally transformed the lives of thousands who have undertaken it, aiding weight loss, improving mental health and well being, reducing cholesterol and blood pressure and removing individuals from the pre diabetes category. Participants have been amazed at their progress and the positive impact on their daily lives. Those who never liked exercise are hooked by the rewards that fitness returns to them in just a few weeks of training.
The programme is backed by a lively, inspirational and hugely supportive online community on the Health Unlocked C25k forum, which has displayed its enthusiasm for the programme by producing and distributing the attached PDF poster/information sheet. We hope that you will find a space for this in your waiting areas and that you will pass on the information sheet to any patient who might benefit from developing a regular exercise habit.
NHS C25k is free to prescribe but will continue to give benefits to your patients for many years to come. It changed our lives, please help others to do the same. The pdf version of the poster can be found at dropbox.com/s/2qjzosbbpw0o6...
Feel free to send your own covering letter or alter the above and indeed tell your GP about your own experience, but I would suggest that you keep it fairly brief. In the first instance it is probably sensible to send this to the practice manager, although GPs and nurses are our real targets.
It would be good if this post could be pinned.
Let's get postering.
Ianno da Truffe
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That is great news IdT, I will distribute asap! Thank you for all your hard work on this and for not giving up- it is great that this fantastic programme can now be promoted further x
Great - well done. I also got the Health Unlocked posters & t shirt in post today. Will Definitely pass both on to practice manager but also the Health Promotion Team as well.
How did you do that?? Personally, I think that distributing this via facebook is probably more likely to reach a wider audience that paper based posters.
I used a photo manipulation program (like Photoshop), I actually use GIMP which if you're unfamiliar is an opensource (free) program, it opens the PDF and then I just export it as a JPG.
Congratulations. I work in a health centre so will try leaving a pile in our waiting room. Will also see if I can track down someone at the health authority to pass this onto the practice managers. I agree they are a better starting point and can take it to staff meetings.
Brilliant! How exciting. Does that mean I get an excuse to visit my hot running Dr?!?!
Seriously though, great work, I'm sure it will make a big difference to other people's lives like it has to many of ours. Really worthwhile
That's great! I think it really captures what the programme and this blog are all about. Well done.
Is it one of the pinned posts so we can find it again?
Ohhh, just went to my GP yesterday. If i had seen this earlier would already be up there. Still, will print some to keep handy if I need to go there again.
Having recieved my posteH & t shirt today I have to say your poster would have made me want to check the program and forum out, the poster that came in my pack not qt all. I will use your version. Many thanks
Bear in mind that the C25k poster is just for this programme and community, whereas there are 500+ other communities under the Health Unlocked banner. It is Health Unlocked in general that we are supposed to be promoting, not just C25k, which is why I have asked for more information from HU about their core purpose.
Yes I agree with Totalbeginner, their poster doesn't say anything at all about what the forum is for even...nor does the t-shirt comet to that. Who IS HealthUnlocked exactly? Are they in fact affiliated at all with the NHS?
Ianno, this is excellent, thank you so much for pushing this through. I think it's great and will walk it down to my local Surgery tomorrow. So chuffed. Nick
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
xxx
Is a poster really enough? can we realistically just design a poster and then pat ourselves on the back for changing the world?
I've done it! C25K Graduation!
C25K Television Programme
daft question'
