Conference will look at the role of exercise in healthcare

Leading figures in public health will be taking part in a conference at Teesside University on physical activity and healthcare.

The conference, entitled ‘Improving Physical Activity Care Pathways: Evidence Based Roles in Reducing Long tem Conditions’ has been organised by the University alongside Middlesbrough Council and Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council.

It will investigate ways in which patients can be successfully referred for exercise and physical activity by GPs and physiotherapists.

The conference will share best practice in exercise referral and look at where problems are occurring in the system.

Speakers at the conference will include leading academics and public health officials including Edward Kunonga, Director of Public Health at Middlesbrough Council, Professor Gerry Danjoux, Consultant Anaesthetist at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Scott Lloyd, Health Improvement Commission lead at Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and Dr Teik Goh, Medical Director, ELM Alliance (South Tees GP Federation).

Gillian Naylor, MSc Sports Rehabilitation Programme Leader at Teesside University, who helped organise the conference, said: 'Exercise on Referral plays an important part in primary care helping patients to lead more healthy lives and, through exercise, to manage a range of conditions including stroke, obesity and diabetes.

'However, patients can only be referred by a GP or a physiotherapist and consistency in referral is variable across the region.

'The conference will share evidence on the different pathways for referral and look at which ones benefit the patients best and where improvements can be explored. 'The University can play a role in helping with local Exercise on Referral through our supervised Exercise and Rehabilitation sessions in which the Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation students complete exercise based clinical experience as part of their programmes accredited clinical hours.

'In collaboration with current scheme providers we aim to provide a quality system which works for both patient care will help gain valuable with employability skills for our students.'

Councillor Lynn Pallister, Cabinet Member for Health & Housing at Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, said: 'The council is pleased to be working alongside Teesside University and Middlesbrough Council in analysing and sharing ways of helping residents live healthier lives.

'We have been working with partners including Everyone Active for some time, as part of the Reactivate Redcar and Cleveland scheme to encourage more people to get into sport and exercise. This conference will allow us to share our experiences of this programme and hopefully develop new ideas based on the experience of other attendees.'

Anybody interested in attending the free conference which takes place in The Curve at Teesside University’s Middlesbrough Campus on December 19 between 8.30am and 4.30pm can email conference@tees.ac.uk.

---