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Support for health professionals

We work with health providers to champion the benefits of moving more to improve people's lives by helping to prevent and manage conditions. This has never been more important than during the pandemic, which has added to challenges brought by growing levels of obesity, diabetes, and mental health problems.

Our goal is to give you what you need to become an advocate for physical activity to your patients / clients, starting with the links and courses below.

Why we need to talk about moving more

Over 20 NICE clinical and public health guidelines advocate for physical activity as part of patient treatment. And there's no reason why those with known health problems can't benefit, as outlined in the consensus statement on the risks of PA for people living with long-term conditions.

  • 1 in 4 patients felt they would be more motivated to take part in PA if advised to do so by a healtcare professional
  • Evidence demonstrates most patients with long term conditions want to be more active
  • 68% of those with two or more long term conditions want to do more physical activity

If physical activity were a drug, we would refer to it as a miracle cure, due to the great many illnesses it can prevent and help treat.

- UK CMO Physical Activity Guidelines, Sept 2019

Moving Medicine

Evidence based, condition-specific information at your fingertips to help give advice on physical activity at all stages of patients' treatment pathways

See info & conditions covered

BMJ e-learning

The BMJ has online learning modules written by Dr William Bird to help professionals understand the importance of physical activity in the treatment of common conditions, from cancer to mental health

Learn more

Health Education England e-learning

eLearning for Healthcare offers digital training to professionals in collaboration with organisation including Royal Colleges, DHSS, the NHS and the UKHSA

Access 400+ training programmes


 

Locally-managed courses:

 

Physical Activity Awareness Training

This training covers the importance and benefits to all adults of being active, shares national guidelines and tips, positive conversation skills, free national resources and local signposting opportunities.  
 
The session is ideal for healthcare assistants, social prescribing link workers, health and wellbeing coaches, other wellbeing professionals and those working within the leisure sector who are new to the links between health and physical activity. 
 
Next training date: Wednesday 8th February 12:30pm – 1:30pm. Book your free place 

Please contact Ruth Hards for more information

Living Longer Better PA Awareness Training

Moving more and sitting less can have considerable health benefits for older people.  This training:

  • covers the importance and benefits of remaining active as people age
  • shares tips on how to encourage people to be more active
  • suggests different ways that movement can be incorporated into people's daily routines.  

 
This session has been created specifically for people who work with or support older people including care workers, community centre assistants / professionals and volunteers working within the voluntary sector.  
 
Next training date: Wednesday 8th March 10am – 11am. Book your free place 
 
Please contact Ruth Hards for more information


Clinical Champions training: physical activity for long-term conditions

Patients with long term conditions are twice as likely to be amongst the least active segment of the population. 1 in 4 people would be more active if advised by a GP or nurse*, however 55% of GPs have no specific training on physical activity in patient care. This FREE online course can:

• Provide evidence-based resources proven to increase knowledge and confidence, and support clinical practice in line with NICE guidance
• Improve management and care of patients with long-term conditions
• Help reduce service demand and costs

Nationally, over 25,000 health care professionals have been trained with 84% saying it was useful in their work. 91% would recommend the training, including the two health professionals featured in these Q&As. 

Next training dates: 
Tue 21 March 12.30-2.00pm
Thu 23 March 6.30-8.00pm

Book your free place for either date 

*Source: PHE Jan 2020

Raising the issue of weight

This course is designed to assist individuals working with children and young people to raise the issue of weight. The training provides learners with information and skills to identify excess weight and obesity, using the UK Standard Child Growth Charts, and to briefly assess key lifestyle factors such as diet and physical activity.

Delegates will be encouraged to use brief intervention skills to sensitively raise the issue of weight and empower the family to make healthier lifestyle choices. Attendees will also be made aware of Surrey’s Child Weight Management service - Be Your Best - and how to refer/signpost.

 

Need to find out more?

To discuss dates, costs or find out if a course is suitable for you - or even just tell us the sort of help/insight you and your team need to solve a patient issue that could be solved by moving more - please contact Laura White or Charlotte Long