I would Like to know

[wakman]

Why are we not able to get free Gym sessions or subsidized ?

This Government is quick to spend money else where ?

 

[Einstein]

Why are we not able to get free Gym sessions or subsidized ?

There is a scheme 'GP referral' which subsidises membership to a gym under a specially trained member of staff.

But only if there are health conditions that would benefit from frequent exercise under specialist supervision.

If you have a heart problem, an extreme weight or mobility issue, then you should be able to get a referral.

You?re right about money being spent everywhere else, except on prevention and quite simply tomorrows health problems are from tomorrows budgets, not todays.

If all diabetics, diet, tablet or insulin controlled were issued with at least two test strips a day then all diabetics could monitor their levels and if despite their best efforts they were rising they could get to the doctors and something could be done about it. Instead we wait until people have heart problems, retinopathy or neuropathy before they are caught and treated.

At which time the cost to the NHS has far exceeded that ?30 a month on test strips. Because it saves a few pounds this month, but costs a fortune in three, five and ten years time.

I do also find that there is something odd happening when all of the test strip manufacturers charge the same amount for a box of test strips. Surely there is some price fixing here, or someone at the NHS has agreed a middle of the road figure for all manufacturers. There seems to be no competition going on.

 

[ukjohn]

David, You are correct there is a GP referal system for gym exercise, but it is not subsidised. I am on this referal at the moment it lasts 12 weeks, with one session a week, it costs ?2.90 per session, which is the same charge for all members of the public, in addition to the weekly fee there is also a one off payment of ?5, which is for a computerised key with your training program, which will only allow you to use the machines for a stated time that your program is set up by the NHS trainer on site at the local gym.After the end of your 12 weeks, you are then free to continue at the gym for the same cost, there is'nt even a discount for OAPs.

John

 

[Einstein]

David, You are correct there is a GP referal system for gym exercise, but it is not subsidised. I am on this referal at the moment it lasts 12 weeks, with one session a week, it costs ?2.90 per session, which is the same charge for all members of the public, in addition to the weekly fee there is also a one off payment of ?5, which is for a computerised key with your training program, which will only allow you to use the machines for a stated time that your program is set up by the NHS trainer on site at the local gym.After the end of your 12 weeks, you are then free to continue at the gym for the same cost, there is'nt even a discount for OAPs.

John

John, I wonder if this is down to each gym to charge or not charge as they think best?

It was a good few years ago and I know it was a pretty good rate of membership and if you got them on the right day, they didn't change your Direct Debit, so it continued at the subsidised rate

We don't have sophisticated gyms with electronic tags for the machines, piece of paper and a pencil in Wiltshire - some of the true locals suffer, they can't write 🙄

 

[MCH]

I think the referal thing might depend on where you stay. In my neck of the woods, I got refered (after being told about it at the gym when I said I was diabetic) because of "bordeline blood pressure" (at least that's what the doctor wrote). I then got 3 months fairly cheap membership of our local council gym (just across the road so very handy for me) and then officially 6 months between the really cheap and the normal cost.

I would suggest that wherever you are, you ask your GP/DSN/consultant and see if there is anything on offer - if they say no, you are no worse off and if they say Yes, you've cracked it.

Good luck. 😉