Fitness 02 December 2019

NHS Forth Valley Staff Award Winner!

Falkirk Community Trust has won the Innovation Award for its Low Impact Class…

We are delighted to announce we have won the Innovation Award as part of the 2019 NHS Forth Valley Staff Awards for our Low Impact Class. Running in Grangemouth Sports Complex since May 2019 and in partnership with NHS Forth Valley Lower Limb Arthritis Redesign team & Active Clackmannanshire, this patient referral initiative has been a great success.

Working together with GP practices the new patient referral initiative knows as ‘Best in Class’, has resulted in more than a 10% reduction in referrals to orthopaedic services and is now being rolled out to other areas in Forth Valley. The initiative, started by Lesley Middlemiss (NHS - Programme Manager for Active Care), Peter Reid (NHS - Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioner) and Kenny Cook (Active Clacks - Active Community Officer) has attracted interest from other NHS Boards and Health and Social Care Partnerships across Scotland.

Best in Class allows patients in Falkirk suffering from lower limb arthritis to be referred by their GP or physio straight to our low impact classes. They will receive expert support and guidance from Falkirk Community Trust instructors on how to manage their pain and improve mobility.

This is a fantastic achievement and we’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Grangemouth Sports Complex team. The patient journey in Falkirk has been significantly improved and this new partnership has been a great success.

The difference these classes make is epitomised in this lovely note from member Margaret:

“Just wanted to say a massive thanks to Peter (physio), Kyle (Active Forth), Marion ( FCT Class Instructor who takes the class) and Stacey (Active Forth) for all their help and advice re my knee problem . Can’t believe the difference and it’s only a month, swelling is away and I’m actually managing to get a decent sleep, started with Marion’s class at Grangemouth but jumped ship to Stenhousemuir only because it’s 5 mins away from home. I am now attending Stacey’s class three times a week and totally love it… what a friendly welcoming bunch they are... and an added bonus after 30 odd years of yo-yo dieting my body shape is finally changing and it’s all thanks to Active Forth...”

If you’d like more information, speak to your GP or physio at your medical practice to see if our low impact classes could benefit you.