Strategy aims to get D&G moving

INACTIVITY and lack of fitness can lead to serious illness or injury and a hospital stay, health officials have warned.

So now they have launched The Dumfries and Galloway Physical Activity Strategy to enable people to be more active, more often.

The aim is to help keep residents healthy and fit into old age, and reducing the risk of frailty and falls. Reducing the number of people who are least active, and encouraging more to meet guidelines on muscle strengthening, are key aims of the strategy.

Commenting, NHS spokesperson Lynne Mann said: “This strategy is for the whole of Dumfries and Galloway across all ages. It has a simple motto — ‘more active, more often’. Looking at making activity more available to everyone by breaking down the barriers to physical activity such as cost and accessibility.

“One key strand is development of the Active Lives Pathway, which is open to referral for anyone with health condition or at risk of developing a health condition. It provides access to free physical activity for a period of time until they’re ready to manage on their own. The aim is to support people through recovery from illness or injury.”

More than a third of people locally — and half of all school-age children — are not being physically active enough, according to the Scottish Government’s recommendations.

NHS Dumfries and Galloway’s public health director Valerie White said: “We have set ourselves some really challenging targets — now it’s about how we translate the strategy into action.

“What’s important is keeping people in Dumfries and Galloway healthy and active so they can enjoy a long and active life. Being physically active is so important for physical health, mental health and connecting with communities. Being more physically active helps prevent developing a range of diseases, keeps us strong so we are less likely to fall as we get older, and can connect us with people and help reduce social isolation.”

The strategy has been developed by a multi-agency team who have worked with experts from Public Health Scotland and the University of Edinburgh and will be a key contribution to the local delivery of the Scottish Government’s Population Health Framework.