GP Gym referral?

[Fred!]

Hey,

I do hope this is in the right place

I'm thinking about asking my GP for a Gym referral. I read somewhere (might have been on a gym's website) about them lasting for 6 months, and at the gym it offered reduced rates of membership.
I would be hoping to join a different gym, but I think they do take GP referrals.

I was just wondering if anyone has a GP referral for 'exercise on prescription'.

I don't have ED and my BMI is quite high. So I think on those grounds my GP will be up for referring me, but I am not very stable mentally. And I just read somewhere that they can't refer people who are unstable. So I don't know. *shrugs*

I wouldn't be wanting to do it until AFTER January! And I'd hopefully be able to work out to go with a friend for a little while before I go on my own because of anxiety, etc...

Having the GP refer me will mean that she will ask me regularly if I've been going (it will be in her paperwork)

I just don't want to pay the like £25+ a month unless I know I can stick with it, and if I can then I'm happy to keep paying once the GP referral thing finishes. If that makes sense.

I was going for a while last year, with the mental health team, but that stopped (complicated) and they've now stopped doing that. It was also a big hassle having to travel there because it's like a 20 minute drive, then park and get the bus and people, etc...

So yeah...
Are they still doing it?
Will I have to pay towards the gym membership?
Experience of something like this?

Thanks

[ParanormalChickenGeek]

I'm unsure whether GP's can/will do this, and whether the NHS would fund the full cost, but alternatively have you thought about going to a gym that offers a months free trial? Many gyms offer free trials and that way you can figure out if it's something you'd stick to and if so, can pay for yourself as you suggested.

[sherlock holmes]

Might as well ask! I know some GPs prescribe gym memberships and some for things like slimmimg world

[talaiporia]

A friend of mine had both and lost like half her body weight. She won an award at slimming word and she's unrecognisable. The GP only paid for a while, and she'd been doing so well she carried on.

[Fred!]

I used to go to the gym with the mental health service but that's stopped now. The gym definitely doesn't offer the first month free. I don't mind paying but would prefer to get into it with the gp nagging me. Lol.

I don't have loads to lose (to be healthy... I'd love to be underweight but think my GP would not be at all pleased. I do need to be really careful though as I did go a bit mad a couple of years ago and lost weight at a dangerous pace but that was mainly the medication and i'm not on any meds now)

I quite enjoyed going to the gym when i was going before but I still love food way too much. I might look at something like slimming world if just the gym doesn't help.
Will see.

[Dying_Angel]

My friend had a free gym pass that was from the GP

[Fred!]

I think (having read some stuff) that the GPs aren't meant to do gym referrals without first making people eat 'healthily' first. As the gym referral costs money to the NHS, getting people to watch what they eat is much cheaper ;)

I've had a referral from my gp u work with a trainer they give u a plan n monitor u :)

[Fred!]

Thanks.
I'll see if I can talk to my GP about it - scary though! :/

[random.swirls]

Ask your gp they can only say no.

That said are you on any benefits? If you are often council gyms have hugely reduced prices.

[Fred!]

I'm on ESA and PIP.
We haven't really got any council run places round here.

I would ask my gp - nothing to lose, but I have a big problem with asking for things, I've been seeing my GP for nearly 2 years now on a fairly regular basis, and only managed to kind of hint to her about sleeping tablets last week, and then she said no anyways. 'trying to keep you safe'