Prescription Fitness

What has the storm over the Government’s proposed NHS reforms got to do with the fitness industry?

There are some serious discussions to be had about what the Coalition wants to do to the NHS but for us in the fitness industry, the proposals provide a massive opportunity.

In a couple of years time GP’s will hold the purse strings. They will decide where to send patients and where to spend the money.

What is the single most urgent and effective thing that people need to do to improve their health and reduce the risk of disease? We all know the answer is ‘exercise’. What is more 85% of the population visit their GP at least once a year and increasingly GP’s are going to be pressurised to get them to exercise. And there is our opportunity.

The fitness sector has what the population needs in order to be healthy. GPs are going to have to recommend exercise more and more to get people fit. And if that needs money, the GPs will have it in their pot.

There’s never been a more important time to get to know our local doctors and persuade them of the benefits we, as an industry, can bring to people; to keep them well, to keep them out of hospital and if they do get ill, to help them recover more quickly. It is a win win situation!

Dr John Searle (OBE), FIA Chief Medical Officer