Exercise referral is the transfer of a patient by a healthcare professional to a facility or exercise professional for the purpose of providing an exercise programme.

Exercise has been used as a prescription for the management of illness and health since the early 19th century, with the development of physiotherapy units in primary care settings. With the ever-increasing number of patients suffering from chronic illnesses in the UK, the benefits of exercise in disease prevention and rehabilitation has become more and more prevalent.

As working out becomes more popular as a form of disease prevention and rehabilitation, more people are referred as part of their care plan from diabetic and coronary rehab centres. A greater percentage of doctors now believe in the benefit of structured exercise programmes in the treatment of many chronic diseases and refer patients to fitness professionals for this purpose.

This has opened up opportunities for exercise professionals to enter into a highly rewarding field.

Over recent years there have been a number of important developments in the field of exercise referral including:

  • New qualification structure that allows Level 2 exercise professionals, in all disciplines, to progress to Level 3 through the Advanced Instructor Exercise Referral qualifications
  • Evidence review by the National Institute of Health & Clinical Excellence (NICE)
  • Best practice guide developed for Wales
  • New toolkit developed by the British Heart Foundation National Centre For Physical Activity & Health
  • Broadening of the modes of exercise and exercise environments available to fitness professionals within which to programme referral schemes
  • New registration structure for exercise professionals supporting quality delivery of exercise referral schemes
  • Widening of the scope of chronic conditions that an appropriately qualified exercise professional can support

Exercise referral schemes have grown substantially with over 800 schemes now running in the UK. These include exercise referral schemes, pedometers and community-based exercise programmes for walking and cycling (NICE 2006).

Over the last 20 years there have been several government initiatives promoting activity for the population in attempts to improve the nation’s health. Let’s Get Moving, published in 2010, recognised the importance of exercise in the management of long standing disease. Exercise referral also sits within the wider context of increasing the activity levels of the population and within the current government’s public health policy. The Health Departments of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland each have policies to promote physical activity.

Other initiatives such as the National Quality Assurance Framework (NQAF) for exercise referral are being re-developed in conjunction with representatives for the sector and the home nations governments. This has boosted the credibility of exercise referral as a real and necessary branch of disease control.

It is vital that fitness professionals are part of the overall development of exercise referral and that a network of exercise professionals is created for health professionals to refer patients to.

So How Do You Get Started?

It is essential that you hold the necessary qualifications in exercise referral and are registered with REPs as an exercise referral professional.

Contact medical professionals and centres:

  • Draft a proposal pack to include a process and model for how you will run the scheme, including how initial consultations will be organised, what exercise structure you intend to use (ie how many one on one, group sessions, etc the patient will be offered) and when their programme will be reviewed
  • Ensure you have details of the team working on your scheme, their qualifications, experience, insurance and affiliations
  • Your facility must be operational and have separate areas for consultations and assessments. It is also good practice to invite the referrer to view your facilities
  • Produce referral forms, client information forms (providing contact telephone numbers and how to book a consultation), scheme evaluation forms, programme cards and client feedback questionnaires, and make these available for the referrer to see
  • Set out your pricing and any funding that may be available, including incentives for joining your scheme
  • Familiarise yourself with NQAF and REPs code of ethics, as you will not want to be left unsure if questioned

Once the above is in place, you can formulate a list of possible referrers and off you go. Book onto the CYQ Certificate In Exercise Referral For Clients With Specific Controlled Conditions (GP Referral)