Lifestyle Referral Scheme

Background
Why become part of the Lifestyle Referral Scheme?
Who is eligible?
How can I access the scheme?
After hearing about the lifestyle referral scheme you should.
What happens once I have been referred?
Where do I attend my initial consultation?
What does my initial consultation involve?
How many appointments will I be offered?
What exercise sessions do we offer?
How much activity should I do?
Do I get a discount for any sessions I attend?
Success stories

Background
The lifestyle referral scheme has been up and running since August 2001 and so far over 2,500 people have benefited from the advice given to them through being part of the scheme.
From the very beginning, the scheme has gone from strength to strength with very positive responses from both health professionals and the public alike:
“I feel more positive about things and am determined to keep going”
“It’s been a help for health, relieving breathlessness and for helping me to relax”
“I have enjoyed the guidance to eating healthily and losing weight”
“I’m managing to walk distances I never thought I would manage again”
“The exercise has been first class help for before and after my knee replacement operation”
“The scheme has been thoroughly enjoyable and I look forward to going to the gym each week”
“I have regained my independence since starting the scheme”
“The scheme has given me the motivation to exercise more regularly”
“I have more confidence as there are others in the gym that also have health problems so I don’t feel like the only one that can’t manage a lot”
“I have more confidence, feel fitter and do more exercise”
“I have been motivated to exercise and keep mobile, it is also nice to meet new people”

Why become part of the Lifestyle Referral Scheme?

Who is eligible?
The main reasons for referral vary from one person to another. The most common reasons are:

• Weight loss
• High blood pressure
• Cardiac rehab
• Mild depression and anxiety
• Chronic back pain

However, many people have additional medical conditions which must be taken into consideration when prescribing exercise. Among those people already on the scheme common medical conditions include:

• Angina
• Asthma
• Coronary Heart Disease
• Depression
• Type 2 Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Osteoarthritis
• Fibromyalgia

If you are unsure of your eligibility please speak to your health professional first.

How can I access the scheme?
You can access the scheme via a variety of health professionals in the following facilities:

• 31 Portland Road Surgery, Kilmarnock
• 34 Portland Road Surgery, Kilmarnock
• Auchinleck Health Centre
• Ayr Hospital (Cardiac, Diabetic, Outpatients & Pulmonary rehab Departments)
• Ballochmyle Medical Group
• Community Mental Health Team (Kilmarnock & Netherthird)
• Crosshouse Hospital (Cardiac, Outpatients & Pulmonary rehab Departments)
• Cumnock Health Centre
• Dalmellington Health Centre
• Darvel Surgery
• Drongan Health Centre
• Dundonald Health Centre
• Dundonald Road Surgery
• East Ayrshire Community Hospital
• East Ayrshire Council Occupational Health Service
• Galston Surgery
• Glencairn Medical Practice
• Hurlford Surgery
• London Road Medical Practice, Kilmarnock
• Muirkirk Surgery
• New Cumnock Health Centre
• Newmilns Surgery
• Old Irvine Road Surgery, Kilmarnock
• Patna Health Centre
• Stewarton Health Centre

To access the scheme you need to be referred by a health professional, i.e GP, physiotherapist, dietitian, practice nurse, district nurse, health visitor or consultant. If you are attending a health professional in a facility not listed above, please contact us on 01563 576972 or email chip@east-ayrshire.gov.uk for more information.

AFTER HEARING ABOUT THE LIFESTYLE REFERRAL SCHEME YOU SHOULD
Make an appointment with your GP or health professional to discuss the referral scheme and discuss wether you should join the scheme.			Get a self referral form either from the GP's surgery or contact your Lifestyle Development Officer on 01563 576723.
	You should ask the GP or health professional what you should do to become eligible.		Complete self referral form and return it to your GP or health professional so they can decide if you are suitable for the scheme.
	Your details will be forwarded to the Lifestyle Development Officer who will then contact you to make the initial appointment which lasts approximately 1 hour.
From there the scheme will last for 12 months. There are checkups after 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months and 12 months.

What happens once I have been referred?
Once the Lifestyle Referral Team receives your referral form from your health professional, we will send you a letter to confirm that we have received it, and invite you to contact us to arrange your initial consultation at a time and venue to suit. You will have four weeks to contact us before the referral expires. Your health professional will be informed if you choose not to take part in the scheme.

Where do I attend my initial consultation?
We offer appointments within a wide variety of facilities across East Ayrshire including:

• Civic Centre, Kilmarnock
• Galleon Leisure Centre, Kilmarnock
• North West Area Centre, Kilmarnock
• Cumnock Health Centre
• Dalmellington Area Centre
• Drongan Health Centre
• Patna Health Centre
• New Cumnock Health Centre
• Muirkirk Surgery
• Catrine Health Centre

What does my initial consultation involve?
The consultation is an informal meeting between yourself and one of our lifestyle counsellors, and will cover a range of topics such as physical activity, healthy eating, stress levels, smoking and alcohol levels, depending on the issues which are relevant to yourself. A variety of health measurements such as blood pressure, weight and body fat levels may also be taken with your agreement.

By the end of your initial appointment you will have agreed upon how you wish to proceed, the changes you want to make, and the activities you are going to try. Options available to you include; walking, attending group exercise sessions, visiting the gym, or being referred on to other local services. For more information on our activity class timetable please contact us on (01563) 576972 email chip@east-ayrshire.gov.uk. Click here for the class timetable

How many appointments will I be offered?
The Lifestyle Referral Scheme lasts for 12 months during which you will be offered 5 appointments as below:

Initial Consultation
(approximately 60 minutes)

6 week follow up
(approximately 30 minutes)

12 week follow up
(approximately 30 minutes)

6 month follow up
(approximately 30 minutes)

12 month follow up
(approximately 30 minutes)

Follow up appointments provide an opportunity to discuss your progress on a one to one basis with your lifestyle counsellor. Health measurements may also be taken with your agreement.

What Exercise Sessions Do We Offer?
A variety of exercise sessions are available including:

• Chair aerobics
• Class Diamonds
• Aquafit
• Low-impact aerobics
• Supervised gym sessions

Classes are also available for those with specific medical conditions which currently include cardiac rehab and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Click here for class descriptions

How much activity should I do?
For health benefits you should aim to accumulate 30 minutes or more of moderate level physical activity over the course of most days of the week (ACSM 2000). You don’t have to go to the gym, or to an exercise class, to be active. Everyday tasks can be just as good for you – as long as you do enough of them!! The list below shows some moderate level activities.

Moderate level activity can include:

• Brisk walking
• Cycling
• Active housework (hoovering, scrubbing floors, washing windows)
• Gardening (digging, cutting grass)
• Dancing
• Washing the car
• Decorating

Do I get a discount for any sessions I attend?
The Lifestyle Referral Scheme consultations are all free of charge. All of our exercise sessions are offered at a discounted rate which is variable depending on which session you attend.
*Any benefits you receive as part of the Lifestyle Referral Scheme will be withdrawn if you fail to attend your appointments.

Success Stories

The Lifestyle Referral Scheme has really changed some people’s lives. Here are some letters we have received.

“Following my heart attack in July 2002, I participated in a 3 month exercise programme at Crosshouse Hospital. The hospital made me aware of the CHIP project, which I had then joined as I still had a long way to go to fully recover, both my physical health and mental wellbeing.

I have tried to exercise at home, as had my wife, but it does not last whereas the two sessions we attend weekly on Tuesdays at the Galleon Centre and Wednesdays at Onthank Community Centre have only been missed due to illness or other commitments such as doctor appointments and only the one with the commitment misses.

Mixing with others who have needed the programme and seeing them benefit in the early days motivates you and the encouragement of others raises your spirits. The programme staff should also be mentioned in this regard as they are not only supportive and encouraging but a shoulder to lean on when you are mentally down as I was in the months following the heart attack.

I now feel fitter than I have been at any point in my 57 years but would not stop the programme as:
• It stops me from becoming a couch potato
• My wife who has asthma needs the exercise
• You selected exercises to strengthen my back which has worked as I have not pulled a muscle in my back in 18 months, yet during the year before you set the programme I was in pain for circa 6 weeks each of the four times due to pulled muscles in my back.
• Both my wife and I enjoy the company of the groups
• There is a lot of satisfaction in encouraging new attendees who you can see feel the way I once did or to encourage the regulars who may be down for whatever reason, and this is reciprocated.
• It has helped us eat more healthily
• Keeps a conscience on us to stay fit and healthy
• The early meetings with you to review progress and set external activity targets such as DIY established work ethic which has been retained
• I now have a dog and walk her 3 or 4 times a day which was thanks to your help and encouragement. Talking about her also encouraged another couple to get a dog again which has given them reason to enjoy life again.

I could probably list other benefits but it has become obvious writing this that the benefits of the programmes are not only to me but also my family and to others on the programme as the process of meeting, participating and talking as a group helps each other. We all give and receive encouragement from each other and from staff, who are the facilitators, and I think there would be a lot of lonely people wasting away without the programme, it has brought a lot of people out of their shell that they retracted in to after their afflictions.

Lastly I should mention the cost. Personally, I feel the costs are very reasonable and paying the gym fees. However I did see about 5 people drop out when the Onthank fee went up which is surprising considering how low that one is relative to all other sessions. The upside however is that there are obviously a lot of people who are attending because of the reduced costs facilitated by the support received from the lottery fund.
Barry Johnson