The UK government’s pivot to prevention will deliver the biggest social change in a century and could transform the health of the nation within a generation if well implemented.
Announced on 3 July, Fit for the Future: 10-year Health Plan for England, will see treatment moving from hospital to community and from analogue to digital, with a range preventative initiatives planned, from the development of neighbourhood health centres to education programmes in healthy living.
Although the physical activity sector wasn’t mentioned in the report and hasn’t been charged with any specific duties, the direction of travel will inevitably see us connecting with healthcare, so we need to be ready, with clear evidence we can deliver change, the programmes to do so and our people accredited.
This months’ move by CIMSPA to issue professional status to exercise professionals is timely and helpful and will move us one step closer to acceptance by healthcare professionals (www.hcmmag.com/profstatus).
Subsequent announcements have come thick and fast since the publication of Fit for the Future, with financial support for Joe Wicks’ new digital kids’ fitness programme (see pages 82/83) and an announcement about WorkWell Centres, which will be licensed to refer people for exercise to help them get ready to return to work (www.hcmmag.com/workwell).
In spite of this good news, however, it’s hard not to feel frustrated at the ongoing lack of engagement by politicians and to mull over what can be done.
It’s a challenge that goes deep – in the same week his government published the health strategy promising to give people advice on healthy lifestyles, British prime minister, Keir Starmer, revealed in a radio interview that he lives on coffee and biscuits and exercises at home without professional guidance.
Such a breathtaking lack of awareness among our leaders goes to the heart of this. Not only are we unseen, the benefits we deliver are simply not being enjoyed.
We believe getting politicians properly on-side has to be part of our sector strategy and HCM is calling for operators to make facilities free for a year for politicians, so they can fully comprehend what we do. Let’s encourage them to get involved, so they can personally experience the power of living well.
It’s a simple idea – there are only 650 MPs in the UK, so no-one would take a major hit by doing this – and it could create a powerful bond and deeper understanding, making it more likely our true value and potential is finally recognised.
