AN INNOVATIVE partnership between Evesham Leisure Centre and Evesham Community Hospital has resulted in more than 1,000 people benefiting from a personalised physio-led exercise recovery programme.
Launched in 2022, the scheme consists of a 12-week gym routine that’s tailored to each person’s individual needs and recovery journey.
It is designed to support people in regaining strength, mobility and confidence with a range of issues, from injury rehabilitation to long-term condition management.
The mayor of Evesham, John Clatworthy, recently visited the leisure centre and met some of the team behind the recovery programme and heard about the positive impact it’s having on the area. Centre manager Lee Oliver, physiotherapist Louise Mann, Councillor Clatworthy, senior physiotherapist Stefan Manby-Hunt and Kay McBride.
The idea came about following an approach by Simon Meadows, the clinical lead physiotherapist at the hospital, to former leisure centre manager Kay McBride and community lead Sharon Keen as he was on the lookout for a safe, local and welcoming setting where patients could continue rehabilitation once their NHS sessions had ended.
“We’ve seen firsthand how much of a difference this makes, not just in strength and recovery, but in people’s confidence and their quality of life,” he said.
Available at concessionary rates and designed to be as accessible as possible, spaces are currently offered via referral to those who are receiving NHS physiotherapy. To date, approximately 1,130 patients within the Evesham area have taken part.
The sessions, however, are not just about physical health but also offer the chance to reconnect with movement, improve mental wellbeing and feel part of a supportive group.
According to the organisers, many participants say the community feel of the sessions has been just as important as the exercise itself.
“It’s about meeting people where they are at and giving them the tools, support and encouragement to take that next step in their recovery journey,” said a spokesperson from the physio team.
Furthermore, the resulting collaboration between Rivers (which runs the leisure centre) and the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust (which operates the hospital) helps ease pressure on local health services by reducing repeat referrals and offering patients a supportive space to maintain their progress.
A spokesperson for Evesham Leisure Centre added: “We believe that everyone deserves access to the tools that help them stay well, move freely and live life to the fullest. This programme is just one of the ways we’re helping to make this a reality for more people in our local community.”
