Joined up thinking with the NHS

Wednesday 16 December 2009

There is good, well documented research to support the positive impact sport and physical activity can have on health and well-being, and Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust (WLCT) has been commissioned to provide a range of services to NHS Ashton Leigh and Wigan (the co-terminus health authority)

Faster paced lives in a convenience age, growing unemployment and an increasing population with continued press of increased obesity levels is adding strain to an already stretched National Health Service. 

There is good, well documented research to support the positive impact sport and physical activity can have on health and well-being, and Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust (WLCT) has been commissioned to provide a range of services to NHS Ashton Leigh and Wigan (the co-terminus health authority) - these include a free swimming programme taken up by nearly 60,000 people locally. 

Wigan Borough has very high levels of cardiovascular disease and obesity, and it therefore makes sense to invest in programmes that can help to reduce the risks of these health conditions, lessening the burden on the NHS.

Whilst there is good evidence to support the positive impact of active lifestyles, it has been difficult to demonstrate the effectiveness of interventions - the main problem being the ability to collect quality data on participation.   Working in partnership with health services and Xn Leisure, WLCT have set up reports that will provide demographic data of customers involved in activities, as well as regularity of participation in all activity programmes.  This enables WLCT, for instance, to look at the profile of participants from different community areas and demonstrate whether those currently being targeted are the most needy communities.  

Data collected from Wigan Borough's free swimming programme will be further analysed as part of a research and evaluation study being undertaken by Salford University.

www.wlct.org