Exercise programme gives Peter a new lease of life

The supervised and structured sessions are designed to help improve general, as well as cardiovascular health.

It is used by people who have had a heart attack, heart event or heart surgery and who have completed their NHS cardiac rehabilitation care.

One man who can testify to its benefits is Peter Hall, 70, from West Thirston. He experienced three heart attacks over a three-month period in 2017 and was referred to the GP Exercise on Referral programme at Willowburn, in Alnwick, via the NHS Nurse-Led Cardiac Rehabilitation Service.

He said: “Since I started the programme, my heart condition has been monitored and has improved dramatically.”

It is now nine months since Peter’s last heart attack and he has been signed off the NHS Cardiac Rehabilitation programme. Peter has now joined the Willowburn gym.

The programme forms part of the close working relationship between the Northumbria HealthCare Trust NHS and Active Northumberland, whereby GPs and other health professionals can refer individuals, who they feel would benefit from physical activity, to their local leisure centre.

For more, speak to your GP/practice nurse, or call AN on 01670 620200.