Greater Manchester physical activity clinical champion training

By GreaterSport | 16 December 2021 | TAGS: Leadership, workforce, Health

GreaterSport are working with the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, to promote and deliver their Physical Activity Clinical Champion (PACC) training. The PACC course, is a fantastic training opportunity delivered by a healthcare professional, for all frontline healthcare professionals to access. The benefits include:

• Access to evidence-based resources proven to increase knowledge and confidence around physical activity, to support clinical practice in line with guidance (e.g. NICE)
• Improve management of patients with 30+ long-term conditions (e.g. CVD, type 2 diabetes, depression, MSK issues, some cancers).
• Help reduce service demand and costs i.e. the ~£0.9bn annual cost to the NHS associated with insufficient physical activity

The ongoing pandemic has highlighted the crucial role of physical activity in supporting people’s physical and mental health. However, a recent survey from Sport England shows that many people struggled to keep active during the first wave of Covid-19, with over 3 million adults reporting that they were less active compared to the previous year. This training can support healthcare professionals to improve patient care and outcomes, as evidence suggests that 1 in 4 people would be more active, if they were advised by a GP or Nurse. However, 70-80% of GPs do not speak about the benefits of physical activity to patients. This can be associated with knowledge, skills and confidence gaps across HCPs. For example, a survey of 1,000 GPs found:

• Less than half (44%) of GPs are confident speaking about physical activity with patients
• Over half (55%) of GPs had had no specific training on physical activity in patient care
• 4 in 5 (80%) of GPs not familiar with the UK Chief Medical Officers’ guidelines

GreaterSport’s partnership with the courses happening in Greater Manchester, means that a Physical Activity professional will also attend the course to identify local physical activity services and opportunities, which frontline healthcare workers can refer into.

Course sign up information

Thursday 20th January 2022; 1:30-3:30pm; sign up here

Thursday 24th March 2022 – 6:30-8:30pm; sign up here