Government report recommends physical activity is essential in an ageing society

It is encouraging to see the UK Government Health and Social Care Committee’s report on physical activity in an ageing society, which was published on Friday.

The AWRC was pleased to submit evidence to the inquiry, and we support the conclusion that – if the Government is to deliver on its prevention ambitions – physical activity can no longer seen as an optional extra.

The report makes clear that physical activity is one of the safest and most cost‑effective interventions we have. It states that, despite being described as “as good as or better” than many drug treatments, it is still often seen as a nice-to-have in our health and care system.

Recognising that there is national agreement that health and care staff must be supported to gain the skills and confidence to discuss and prescribe physical activity with patients, particularly older patients, the report challenges the Government and ICBs to do more through investment in resources and communications. We are particularly pleased to see our Physical Activity Clinical Champions (PACC) programme highlighted as an example of good practice.

It’s also positive to see a strong emphasis on communities – both through investment in community‑based initiatives and infrastructure, and through designing places that support people to stay active as they age.

We continue to emphasise the importance of place‑based strategies shaped by local needs and co‑produced with the people they serve. We welcome the acknowledgement of the impact that stronger partnerships between the health system and the leisure and physical activity sectors can have in supporting care to be delivered in community, rather than hospital, settings.

In a rapidly ageing society, movement must be built into care pathways and the wider environments people live in if we are to prevent rising ill health, widening inequalities, and growing pressure on health and care services. We’re pleased to see this being explicitly acknowledged by Government.

Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/eFUGCuED