Health

Aim

The aim of the Community Cardiac Health Development Officer is to develop Health initiatives in the Wrexham area and provide a programme of exercise for people who have had a heart attack.

Background

The Community Cardiac Health Development post is joint funded initiative between the North East Wales Hospital Trust and Wrexham County Borough Council. The two main schemes run by the Community Cardiac Health Development Officer are Cardiac Rehabilitation Programme and Fresh Start.

Cardiac Rehabilitation

Phase IV Cardiac Rehabilitation is another scheme, that provides the opportunity for patients from Wrexham Maelor Hospitals Cardiac Rehabilitation Department to continue with their exercise plan under safe conditions.
Further information on physical activity and coronary heart disease can be found on the British Heart Foundation website.

Fresh Start

Fresh start is Wrexham County Borough Council’s exercise on referral scheme, which provides a programme of activities at local leisure centres. The scheme allows health care professionals to identify those who would benefit from increased physical activity and refer them on to receive safe and effective exercise from trained exercise instructors.

Some questions commonly asked…

What happens?

The health care professional sends details to the exercise instructor at a local leisure centre who will then contact you and invite you to exercise. You will be able to choose from a variety of activities, such as:

• Specific exercise classes

• Aquacise

• Walking for health scheme

• Gym based exercise

• Swimming

Do I have to be fit?

No, exercise can be beneficial to all ages and levels of fitness. Your exercise programme will be tailored to your own pace and goal.

When do I attend?

A variety of sessions are available throughout the day and evening including weekends at all of the five main centres, these being:

• Waterworld

• Plas Madoc Leisure Centre

• Gwyn Evans Sports Centre

• Chirk Leisure Centre

• Queensway

Some specific sessions are held as follows:

Cardiac Rehab

Cardiac Rehab & Fresh Start

How much does it cost?

For Fresh Start and Cardiac Rehab, the first ten sessions of your exercise programme will cost you £6.00, after that you will pay £1.50 per session. You may also bring a partner along to the exercise sessions at a reduced ‘partner’ cost.

What are the benefits of long term exercise?

• Improved energy levels through increased fitness/stamina
• Helps maintain strong muscles and flexible joints
• Socialise and make friends
• Reduced risk of heart disease and stroke
• Help control blood pressure
• Weight control
• Improved body shape/muscle tone
• Reduced stress/anxiety
• Improved confidence/self-esteem
• Enjoyment and a feeling of achievement
• Maintain your health, through prevention or improvement of conditions such as diabetes and osteoporosis.

The Fresh Start scheme is also closely linked with "Walking for Health" scheme and "Green Gym" as a way of increasing exercise levels.
Further information can be found at the Walking the Way to Health Initiative website.

Outreach

Wrexham County Borough Council also tries to extend opportunities out into the local communities as well as at leisure centres. One such area is Brynteg, where regular exercise sessions run at the Memorial Centre on Mondays’ 9.30-10.30am.

Over 50’s

Are you over 50?

Do you want to...

• Maintain or improve your physical condition?
• Minimise loss of strength/flexibility in your muscles?
• Improve your balance and co-ordination?
• Improve the strength of your bones?
• Improve your medical condition?

Exercise sessions are now available at all of Wrexham County Borough Council’s leisure centres specifically for the over 50’s.

For more information on Wrexham County Borough's Leisure Centres >>

Community Cardiac Health Development Officer
Waterworld
Holt Road
Wrexham
LL13 8DH

Tel: 01978 297361
Fax: 01978 297351