People recovering from heart attack, heart surgery or cardiac procedure now have the opportunity to undertake some of their Cardiac Rehabilitation Programme at Inverness Leisure and leisure centres in East Ross.
The partnership between High Life Highland and NHS Highland aims to provide a seamless transition for patients from a Rehabilitation Programme facilitated by the NHS Highland Cardiac Rehabilitation Team to a Rehabilitation Programme that will be facilitated by highly trained fitness instructors in High Life Highland leisure centres.
As part of the new programme patients who have been assessed, by health care professionals, as suitable to participate will have the opportunity to take part in a weekly session of exercise provided by High Life Highland fitness instructors who will support the health professionals in the development, delivery and assessment of evidence-based, individualised programmes of prevention and rehabilitation for people with established Cardiovascular Disease.
The programme began on Friday 12th January with the first class held at Inverness Leisure Centre and a new class is also starting in Dingwall Leisure on Tuesday afternoons starting 30th January for 10 weeks in the dance studio at Dingwall Leisure Centre. The programme will run for an initial pilot phase including a rotation to to other East Ross leisure facilities such as Invergordon Leisure Centre, Averon Leisure Centre (Alness) and TRACC (Tain Royal Academy Community Complex).
Many of the Leisure Facilities have recently been refurbished and are popular and well used boasting a range of facilities such as swimming pools, squash courts, sauna, steam room, fully equipped gym fitness suite and popular fitness class programmes.
Professor Stephen Leslie, Consultant Cardiologist (NHS Highland) said:
“This initiative is giving patients access to superb facilities and provides patients with a structured programme which develops their own self-management skills. The link up with High Life Highland will introduce many people with no recent or no previous experience of a leisure centre environment to the huge range of physical activities available. It will add considerably to the choice of activities and support available to this group of patients in maintaining their healthier lifestyles”.
Ian Murray, Chief Executive of High Life Highland said:
“We are delighted to be working with NHS Highland in this way, to provide an important part of a treatment programme for patients in a safe, friendly and suitable space. We are particularly pleased that by helping patients to receive treatment from within the leisure centre by High Life Highland staff we will be better placed to support and encourage patients to continue with physical activity beyond their treatment programme.”
