London Sport has today announced a new collaboration with London’s Health and Care Partnership and NHS England London to review and build the integration of physical activity within healthcare in London.
The partnership aims to empower Londoners with – or at risk of – long-term health conditions to improve their health outcomes through the routine use of physical activity within services to treat and manage their health.
It will feature two important strands of work:
– A dedicated new role hosted by the North East London Integrated Care Board, following an application process in which Integrated Care Systems (ICS) were invited to apply to be involved in the work.
– The co-development of an action plan by those working within London’s health and physical activity sectors to act as a framework for change, both within North East London and as a source of reference and catalyst to support action more widely across the city.
Physical activity is known to have significant benefits for both physical and mental health and can play a positive role in preventing and managing over 20 chronic conditions and diseases including some cancers, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and depression.
Regular physical activity reduces risk of1:
- All-cause mortality by 30%
- Cardiovascular disease by up to 35%
- Type-2 diabetes by up to 40%
- Colon cancer by 30%
- Breast cancer by 20%
- Depression by up to 30%
- Hip fractures by up to 68%
- Dementia by up to 30%
In addition to this new way of working, London Sport can also confirm that NHS England London is proudly sponsoring the Health and Wellbeing Award at the London Sport Awards, taking place this week at the iconic Guildhall on 27th March. The Health and Wellbeing Award highlights significant achievements in using physical activity to promote physical and mental health and wellbeing, emphasising the vital role that being physically active plays in supporting health outcomes. The Award shines a light on those supporting Londoners with their physiological health, mental wellbeing, health management or any of the wider outcomes supported by physical activity and sport.
Rob McLean, Strategic Lead for Health at London Sport said:
“It is no secret in the healthcare sector that physical activity can help to prevent and treat many illnesses, to the extent that if it were a drug, it would be referred to as a miracle cure.
However, around half of Londoners in the poorest health are not active enough to receive these benefits. This exciting project will explore how we can, realistically, make this miracle cure more widely available through London’s healthcare system”.
Caroline Clarke, Regional Director for the NHS in London, said:
“We are pleased to be sponsoring the Health and Wellbeing Award at the London Sport Awards this year, which will celebrate just some of the amazing work being done across the capital to promote health and wellbeing through sport and exercise.
We know that physical activity is integral to a healthy lifestyle, and we’re proud to partner with Sport London to integrate physical activity within London healthcare to support local people to get active and improve their lives”.
Hannah Harniess, Director of Allied Health Professionals for NHS Nort East London, said:
“We are delighted to be partnering with London Sport to embed physical activity within health and care across North East London. As we face significant challenges across our health and care system, we know that solutions will be found through collaboration with communities and in partnership across sectors. This partnership will not only strengthen existing efforts and deepen connections across health, social care, and the leisure sector but, crucially, will help tackle inequalities, ensuring that everyone regardless of background or circumstance, can experience the life-changing benefits of being active.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
Applications have now closed for the Physical Activity Lead – North East London Integrated Care System.
About London Sport
London Sport is a charity that exists to help ensure more Londoners live happier, healthier lives through access to sport and physical activity.
Supported by Sport England and the Mayor of London, London Sport collaborates with those that share our vision, running and supporting projects that help children, young people and the least active adults to embed sport and physical activity into their lives.
About the London Health and Care Partnership
The London Health and Care Partnership includes the Greater London Authority (GLA), London Councils, NHS England, Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), Health Security Agency (HSA) and the five London Integrated Care Systems (ICSs). The Partnership is a network of stakeholders from across the health and care community who are committed to delivering the London Vision. The aim of this Vision is to make London the world’s healthiest global city and the best global city in which to receive health and care services. The aim of this Vision is to make London the world’s healthiest global city and the best global city in which to receive health and care services.
About NHSE – London
NHS England has oversight and leadership for the NHS in London and commissions more than £15bn of services for the 8.17 million people living in the capital. These include general practitioners (GP) and over 140 specialised services. NHSE-London’s work involves supporting 38 trusts, and five Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) to ensure that together, excellent services are provided that meet the needs of patients.
About NHS North East London
NHS North East London is responsible for planning and commissioning health services across north east London and are accountable for NHS spend and performance, ensuring all parts of the local health system work effectively together. The organisation sets strategies, policies and plans where these are best done at the scale of the whole of North East London. NHS North East London’s agreed ambition as a partnership is “to work with and for all the people of north east London to create meaningful improvements in health, wellbeing and equity”.
