Health and wellbeing pilot launched in Seaford

A collaboration between two GP surgeries and Wave Active, the operator of local sports and leisure centres, will see patients in Seaford with early signs of hypertension undergo a programme of education and supervised physical activity to reduce the risks of developing a health condition associated with hypertension.

Following individual assessments, 17 patients - seven from the Old School Surgery and 10 from Seaford Medical Practice - are taking part in weekly sessions over 12-weeks at Downs Leisure Centre, supervised and delivered by Wave Active’s Team of Health Practitioners.

The innovative pilot scheme is designed to keep people healthier for longer and give residents the right care, in the right place and the right time, in accordance with aspirations of the Sussex Health and Care Plan.

Duncan Kerr, Chief Executive of Wave Active, said:

“Wave Active and the Seaford Primary Care Network are using our collective expertise and resources to deliver interventions that encourage healthier living and address the health inequalities that lead to conditions such as coronary heart disease.

“The programmes are carefully designed for each patient, alongside regular monitoring, and I’m delighted to report that many are already feeling and seeing benefits from taking part.

“Our GPs are brilliant and do an incredible job in Seaford, but there is undoubtedly great scope to improve and develop the way residents manage their own health and wellbeing, by employing a more integrated approach to healthcare in communities.

“This programme is not just about the health outcomes for the participants but also about the partnership adopting new and different ways of working to reduce barriers of participation and health inequalities”

All the patients taking part in the pilot attend weekly 60-minute supervised sessions at Downs Leisure Centre incorporating educational and practical elements, both of which are focused on managing hypertension and undergo a range of tests, including cholesterol and blood pressure, at the start of the programme and at the end of the 12-weeks.

Dr Joseph LJEVAR, GP at Old School in Seaford said:

"We are delighted to be able to work in partnership with Wave Active to bring this pilot to the Seaford Community.

The benefits of people leading more active lifestyles is well documented and, as a PCN, in partnership with Wave Active, we hope, through interventions like this hypertensive pilot we can impact on short- and long-term health gains for the Seaford Community.”

Following the success of the initial pilot the intention is for more courses to be developed and delivered covering a range of health conditions.

Find Out more about this project via BBC Radio Sussex with Danny Pike HERE . You can hear us at 1 hour 7 minutes into the show.

Find out more about Wave Active Health by watching our video HERE

Find out more about our Wave Active Health Team delivery and activities HERE