A new report published by ukactive ‘Leading the Change: social prescribing within the fitness and leisure sector’, calls for the Government and its agencies to realise the potential of fitness and leisure facilities to support people through social prescribing to reduce the pressure on the NHS.

Social prescribing connects people to community support based on what interests them, and helps address issues affecting their health and wellbeing. Working alongside GPs, social prescribing link workers connect people to activities such as fitness groups, swimming, walking, dancing, running, or gardening, depending on what the person likes and what will benefit them.

The fitness and leisure sector already plays a major role in community healthcare, such as providing rehabilitation from COVID-19 and cardiac, pulmonary and musculoskeletal conditions, as well 66% of the nation’s cancer prehabilitation and rehabilitation services.