This report explores the different ways employers within clinical and non-clinical roles in health and care organisations can engage and encourage others with long term health conditions be more active. Data was drawn from a variety of different secondary sources, ranging from Health England publications to Sport England searchable information on physical activity levels across England. They found that nearly half (46%) of unpaid carers aged over 55 years old are inactive compared to 33% of adults of the same age. They also found that in 2020, only 40% of health and care staff reported that their organisation took positive action on health and wellbeing.
In the past, research has demonstrated the different consequences of inactivity and the implications of health and wellbeing action within the workforce, yet we still know little about the different ways physical activity could be embedded into health and social care pathways. The findings suggest that reducing inactivity could prevent up to 40% of long-term health conditions, therefore the question that’s left is: what is stopping the NHS from providing physical activity as a preventative measure for those suffering long term health conditions?
