Agenda item

To receive a presentation on delivery of Hampshire’s Physical Activity Strategy and to explore how organisations across the Hampshire system can support the goal of increasing physical activity levels. 

The Board received a presentation from the physical activity sector regarding the Hampshire Physical Activity Strategy that cross cuts many themes in the Board’s own Health and Wellbeing Strategy.  Members heard: 

The framework around physical activity has strengthened over the course of time (following the 2015 Sports and Physical Activity Strategy) and there has been a trend in the focus on inactivity.  Sport should not be a barrier to people being active and this is an opportunity for change and a prevention agenda.  Overcoming inequalities and persuading people and communities is key.  Physical inactivity has been shown to have nearly the same effects as smoking and even conservative estimates for cost are high, without the consideration of mental health issues.  

Focus on place-based action to support children and young people, inactive women, people with or at risk of disabilities with a whole system approach is needed to bring about the necessary change.  Understanding what makes individuals less likely to take action and what affects people’s propensity to be engaged in physical activity is critical.  The simple ambition is to make physical activity the easy choice.    

Work has started in Andover including commissioned research with policy colleagues, general practitioners, etc. and the report is due shortly with any changes that need to be made.  Progress will be insight led to drive investment, engaging and taking on feedback but with clear principles for delivery with collaboration amongst a partnership of equals.  The physical activity voluntary sector are signposting people to these services and happy to work with new partners, including investing in the workforce and offering free professional training.  Reaching high risk individuals and groups such as LGBTQ+ communities who are less likely to be active is key to provide engagement where necessary.  

Doing things differently and providing shared opportunities can make a real impact and difference.  Meeting with local providers to share learning and setting up the Get Active website to make opportunities available for everyone.  Relatable images and curated activities will help join up providers and seekers.  Planning to deliver sustainably will include new interventions and early stages of rollout and evaluation.  

The Health and Wellbeing Board can support by championing, co-commissioning, promoting, have conversations about, focusing on inequalities, modeling active behaviours, and providing system leadership for further development.  Forty-two organizations across England with shared learning and actions, will create a culture and language of partnerships.

Members noted that in relation to how vital physical activity is to children and young people’s mental health issues and the consequences of people’s lifestyle, more funding should be invested (much like smoking cessation services) to support the work being done in the voluntary sector for early intervention and to help bring about the population that we would like to see in 2050.  It can be frustrating to be able to prescribe a medication, but not necessarily physical activity as it may come at a cost.  

In response to questions, Members heard:

It doesn’t always take much investment to get started and prevention is key.  Engaging individuals and groups in activities that resonate with them builds healthy habits and self-esteem.  

With respect to data collection, gardening was excluded as it was sports survey, but is viewed as being active.  

Unfortunately, evidence does not suggest that wearable technology alone can create the change that is needed.  Achievable manageable activity embedded in daily life and finding opportunities is critical.  Organizational wellbeing nudges for staff is a good place to start, for example, psychology suggests that if sports footwear is worn, it is likely to make one move more.

The focus ought to be on those that aren’t doing anything as opposed to people who could do more.  Prevention is finding those that aren’t and prevent them from becoming a statistic.  Inactivity can affect everyone and finding the pathways to identify those opportunities is key to intervention. 

Bringing these issues to the forefront will allow physicians the opportunity to make every contact count and for patients to self-manage.  Modeling behaviour both in day to day life and the workplace can create change.  System leadership and redesign is key and while a ban has worked on smoking, it is now a crunch point for inactivity.  Physical activity needs to be built into lives and the effect of factors such as transport must be assessed.  

The UK is about the most inactive country in the developed world and learning from societal experiences in other nations will guide work in this area.  NHS Trust partners are eager to be involved and would appreciate the opportunity.  The presentation is available online and will also be shared with all Members.  

Members noted that this was an area the Board was passionate about and there is much work to be done in this area.  

RESOLVED: 

The Health and Wellbeing Board noted the presentation.