Exercise referral leaflet.qxd - Dorsetforyou.com

West DorsetExercise ReferralExexerciseRef ferraral

What is exercise referral?Exercise referral enables doctors and medical professionals to referexercise to suitable patients. This helps to put you (the patient) in touchwith designated staff at leisure centres who can help you to plan aprogramme of appropriate activity. These staff will provide you with aprofessional, understanding and confidential service.Who are exercise referrals for?If you have received this leaflet from your doctor with an exercise referralform, then you can take it that you are someone whose health stands toimprove considerably by becoming more active. Many people with healthconcerns are unsure about what they can safely do, so the scheme willprovide an opportunity for you to receive advice and support to help youbecome more active.Who runs the scheme?The scheme is a joint venture between the South West Dorset PrimaryCare Trust , the Leisure and Tourism Division of West Dorset DistrictCouncil, and the five leisure centres in West Dorset (see opposite page fordetails).Why be active?Activity makes you feel good and look better, it keeps you fitter and givesyou more energy. If you are active you can manage your weight moreeasily. It helps you to prevent illness and disability and can help you tomanage existing conditions and disabilities. Being active is a great way tobe with friends and make new ones and it is good fun!By increasing the amount of regular physical activity you do, you arealready taking steps to improve your health. If you would like to do moreto benefit your health, such as improving your diet or stopping smoking,ask the staff at the leisure centre for information.What do you do now?Telephone or call in to one of the centres listed to make an appointmentto meet with the exercise professional. Take along the white referral formthat the medical team gave you and hand to the exercise professional atyour first meeting.

At your appointment the exercise professional will give you advice onsuitable types of exercise and where and when you can take part inthese activities. Your instructor will issue you with an entry card, whichyou will need to show at reception when you come along for any of thereduced cost activities.The types of activity available at each centre differ slightly so you maywish to visit more than one centre to vary your programme. If you wish touse the fitness gym at any of the centres you will need to be shown howto safely use equipment by an instructor. Separate instruction will berequired if you want to use a gym at another centre as the equipmentvaries slightly at each site.Your instructor will meet with you halfway through your nine weekprogramme and also at the end of the course. If you have any questionsin between those appointments, please do not hesitate to contact thecentre.About the leisure centresThe following table is a quick guide to the facilities available at each ofthe centres. They all offer a variety of activities to their customers andsome of these are offered to patients on the Exercise Referral scheme ata reduced cost. Please ask at the centres for more details.FacilitiesTeaching poolFitness suite25 metre swimming poolActivity studioAstroturfMulti purpose sports hallSports pitchesSquash courtsTennis courtsBridportLeisureCentreBudmouthCommunitySportsCentre(Chickerell)GryphonLeisureCentre(Sherborne)St OsmundsCommunitySportsCentre(Dorchester)ThomasHardyeLeisureCentre(Dorchester)

Leisure and Tourism DivisionAddress: West Dorset District CouncilStratton House, High West StreetDorchester, Dorset DT1 1UZTel: 01305 252250Fax: 01305 257039Email: leisure@westdorset-dc.gov.ukWebsite: www.westdorset-dc.gov.ukSports Development UnitTel: 01305 252263Fax: 01305 257039Email: leisure@westdorset-dc.gov.ukBridport Leisure CentreTel: 01308 427464Fax: 01308 456888Email: info@bridportleisure.comBudmouth Community Sports Centre, ChickerellTel: 01305 830508Fax: 01305 830555Email: bcsc@budmouth.tcnet.org.ukWebsite: www.budmouthsports.infoGryphon Leisure Centre, SherborneTel: 01935 814011Fax: 01935 817570Email: gryphonleisure@westdorset-dc.gov.ukSt. Osmund’s Community Sports Centre,DorchesterTel: 01305 756472Fax: 01305 756472Email: simonstewart1@whsmithnet.co.ukGRYPHONleisure centreThomas Hardye Leisure Centre, DorchesterTel: 01305 266772Fax: 01305 266990Email: thlc@westdorset-dc.gov.uk