Verbal presentation from Jo McAulay, NHS Active Hospitals Project
Minutes:
Jo McAulay, Project Lead for the NHS Active Hospitals Project was in attendance to inform the Forum of the project and seek ideas and information to support it.
The following points were highlighted:
a) Nottingham is running one of four pilots across the country to promote activity of hospital-based staff and patients within the vicinity of hospitals to promote all-round better well-being. Being inactive can be as damaging as smoking so it’s important to encourage activity;
b) Whilst obviously not suitable for all patients, it is hoped that once staff are engaged and inspired, they will then encourage capable patients of all ages and with a variety of conditions to become more active, such as walking and cycling, with the commissioning of the project to primarily focus on out-patients with liver disease, and children with diabetes, then moving on to include pregnant women with diabetes and musculoskeletal inpatients and outpatients;
c) The scheme is looking at what can be delivered within the hospital, but also what is available to easily access locally and in the surrounding areas, linking local amenities, to which patients and staff may be signposted. The scheme isn’t intending to directly provide activity, just to promote and direct people to activities;
Members of the Forum provided following comments and suggestions:
d) LAF volunteers host a range of skills and knowledge, including several subgroups of niche skills and would welcome the sharing of information;
e) With Wollaton Hall Park very close to the Queens Medical Centre, with access through the Golf Club Entrance, the Friends of Wollaton Park may be willing to contribute, as would Nottingham Open Spaces Forum, which could offer information on more general access across the City;
f) Promotion of health and active travel for all is important and the current work on the hospital cycle parking initiative is welcomed;
g) Ridewise, focuses on promoting cycling and walking for health within the city and holds a lot of helpful information which members would welcome sharing with the Active Hospitals programme. Ridewise has community cycle centres sited near to both hospitals within the City and promotes cycling for health and cycling for all, including adapted cycles and companion cycles activity;
h) There is clearly a large overlap on the mental health focus of the Green Social Prescribing Project (GSPP) whereby people can self-refer for a variety of reasons, such as isolation, GP suggestion and more complex referrals, and Active Hospitals, so it would be mutually beneficial to share information;
i) The LAF walking subgroup is active mainly provides guidance for self-directed walks, some of which are close to hospitals and include great places to visit. Details of which can be found on the website;
j) ‘Best-foot-forward’ is a led-walk organisation based within the City, but does offer schemes within the county and has links with GSPP and a ‘Green Space Walking Network’. In addition, several schemes link into the Ramblers Association, which offers information on walks for those starting out, up to training for walk leaders;
k) Apps are available for self-guided walks within the City, such as ‘Go Jauntily’ which is a social prescribing app working with ‘Green Space’;
l) ‘Nottinghamshire Guided Walk Partnership’ provides information on self-guided walks and accompanied health walks, for which funding has been provided, so it would be good to work with the hospitals prior to March when a handbook is proposed to be issued.
Action
1) RK to facilitate Jo McAuley talking to Laura Armitage (walking side of ‘green space project’) and Amanda Chambers (project manager), and the ‘Open Spaces Forum’ ;
2) LC to provide Jo McAuley with links to ‘Ramblers Association Well-Being Walks’ and ‘Best Foot Forward’ and the ‘Green Space Walking Network’;
3) HH to keep Jo informed of any Ridewise and other relevant activity which may be of use.