Exercise referral programme for chronic disease under development

An exercise referral programme for chronic disease is to be established in one health region, the Medical Independent (MI) has learned.

The HSE is due to publish a tender for the programme. The outcome of the process could inform similar developments in other regions, Ms Sarah O’Brien, HSE National Lead for the Healthy Eating and Active Living Programme, told MI.

“The programme will be provided by suitably qualified exercise professionals,” said Ms O’Brien.

People will receive a one-to-one consultation as well as the opportunity to participate in a structured exercise programme twice a week for up to 12 weeks. There will be a focus on behaviour change and connecting service users with wider community physical activity opportunities once the programme is finalised.

The HSE has also worked with the National Institute of Preventative Cardiology to develop and offer a free short course to develop healthcare practitioners’ skills and confidence to promote physical activity in clinical practice.

“Dr Andrew O’Regan, GP and academic in University of Limerick, has been involved with the development of the new course,” said Ms O’Brien.

Courses in 2024 are full, she added, but more will be offered in 2025.

Ms O’Brien noted that “when we speak with healthcare practitioners about physical activity promotion in practice, they consistently highlight a lack of knowledge on the training and qualification process for exercise professionals”.

This has led to a “consequent lack of confidence in the safety of signposting and referral to community programmes, particularly for service users living with chronic disease”.

Ms O’Brien added that South East Technological University is developing a framework for training and accrediting exercise professionals in the area of chronic disease. This work is supported by the HSE and the Sport Ireland-funded physical activity chronic conditions initiative.

“Since June 2023, they have examined the evidence and consulted with a wide range of stakeholders in health, higher education, and the exercise sectors,” said Ms O’Brien. A final framework is expected to be published before the end of the year.

Separately, a Department of Health spokesperson said it is “hoped” that the new National Physical Activity Framework 2024-2040, together with an action plan covering 2024-
2029, will be launched in the “coming months”. “It is intended that the successor to the Get Ireland Active – the National Physical Activity Plan (NPAP) will take the form of a long-term framework, which will guide a coherent approach to the promotion of, and the removal of barriers to, physical activity by all.” The first NPAP was launched in 2016. See news feature.