To want to get gym membership on the NHS

[lucyellensmum]

Our local swimming pool does GP reffered memberships and fitness programs. I suffer with depression and anxiety - i used to love the gym but i cannot afford it or justify the time away from DD. If i could get this at a reduced rate i could ask my mum to have DD for a couple of hours a week just so i could get back on track - i want to come off of ADs but cant do so without an outlet. Has anyone any experience of this?

Scottish..

I have to say there is no doubt in my mind that exercise helps but being given a membership to a gym does not make you go and does not tech you long term coping mechenisms for depression. it's is merely a short term placebo that triggers endorphims(sp?) that provide a temporary feel good.

Getting regular exercise is a fabulous aide to beating depression but as I said.. it's not what helps you get out of bed. it makes life easier and helps with motivation, it doesn't keep you alive and it doesn't give you motivation.

sorry x-posts with lots of people.

she's getting the ADs already, nervousal!

my MIL is not getting treatment at all for life or death disorder unless she buys it.

we've got the draw the line somewhere.

unfortunately, it's just not made to fund a lot of things unless people are prepared to pay more NI.

discounted gym membership or classes seems a compromise, why does everything have to be free?

if you're on benefits, even partially, you do get discounts.

?? things seem to be getting worse and worse?? how? NHS are seeing more and more patients each year, are dealing with increasing drug costs and ageing population. Healthy life expectancy is increasing all the time. Waiting lists are decreasing. Health Acquired Infections are reducing - how is this getting worse and worse????

Here's a thought, i have to pay for my prescription of ADs. I am happy to pay for prescribed exercise, at a price i can afford. I suppose the thread title is a little antagonistic - but surely a reffered exercise scheme, thats a good thing, isnt it???

I think yabu

I have had depression for most of my life and i certainly wouldnt expect the NHS to fund gym membership.Going for a walk and jogging is free ,also you could get a cycling machine cheaply and use that.

people on WTC are usually eligible for discount, as are those on partial HB/CB and those receiving high amounts of CTC.

and people on DLA, even low rate mobility/care.

I think so LEM but do you think a 'prescription' for a gym would really make you anymore motivated to go? if so would you mind if I asked why? is it that you would feel obligated if it was on prescription? genuine question

have to remember that part of the benefit of referred exercise schemes is also the social element - just not the same going for a walk/run on your own, or sitting on an exercise bike in your front room

Expat - can i stop you there, because i do actually agree with most of the points you are raising. Firstly, i do pay for my ADs, i think the money i pay for the prescription is far more than the pills cost, but i pay this happily, well willingly. I do think that someone with a life threatening illness should be in receipt of the appropriate treatment. For me, i dont feel my depression is life threatening (it has been in the past), but it makes me feel like shit - you know how it is. I worded my OP badly, if you can see this scheme as something offered by the local council rather than the NHS, would it sit better with you?

the thing about "drawing the line" is no one wants to be the line and we all have different ethical socio-political interpretations of the line.

with finite resources clinicians and services are always going to be stretched.indeed medical skills and intervention increase year on year, what was impossible and unattainable last year is possible and attainable and costly now

expat - why does your MIL have to pay for treatment? Are you talking about prescription charges?? Get her to move to Scotland where we're going ot have free prescriptions soon!

but lucy, if you ring the council leisure centre, they will tell you about discounts available to people on WTC, which IIRC you are in receipt of.

DD1 gets free pool time because she is on DLA, and DH takes her, as it has done wonders for her mobility - particularly opening up her hips a bit as she has dyspraxia and other delays.

if you are a student, you may also qualify for a discount.

she is in scotland, nervousal. she is a scottish person. she has to pay up because she and FIL are just over the threshhold to qualify for free.

and the prescriptions are not going to be free in Scotland, they're going to be a fiver if the new plans go through.

Where would you draw the line though?

Free gym membership for Obese patients
suffering with associated disceases?

Arthritis sufferers?

Just over the threshold?? But no medicines are means tested?? and there are plans to make prescriptions free in scotla

not official but best I could do in 2 secs

this pagefree prescriptions in scotland

to qualify for free prescriptions. additionally, there are some drugs which suit the patient better, but are not under NICE guidlines, so if the patient wants them, they have to pay for them.

this also occurred to my FIL back when he was on oral insulin, but now things have changed and he is on injectibles and has had to adjust his other meds accordingly.

they don't pay for insulin pumps, even though in the long run they save the NHS money.

that's hte plan.

it's not here yet.

Mascara - that is a very valid point re the motivation. I dont really know that i have the answer, i do know that i am telling the truth. I would feel that there was a structure and a point to it, that i was doing it for a reason. Why? i dont know. I guess because someone would be setting me targets and i would have to work towards them. I probably could afford a weekly session at the gym (honestly things are really tight for us right now) but i couldnt afford to pay for someone to set me an exercise regeime or anything like that.

Tomorrow i am going to find out abuot the scheme, it may or may not be free - but im definately going to look into it.

Why do i need the gym rather than the road? I coudlnt run on the road right now, i need the treadmil - I NEED the treadmil. When i was at uni i would go to the gym for two hours a day, my motivation was to run from lands end to john o groats, there was a map on the wall and you moved your pin each day - i think i got as far as devon!

Hmmm...just dipping in to this to add my bit then running off to avoid stone throwing etc...

I think if there was money for this sort of thing then it would be better put towards offering a childcare discount or assistance of some sort for the very many people who cannot attend counselling or psychotherapy because they have DCs and no other support network that will take the children for them for an hour. After all one of the highest risk groups for depression are mothers with children of pre-school age.

Are you suggesting that NHS should fund drugs and treatments which have not been approved? yet treatments for which there is good evidence (i.e.exercise) we should pay for?? Odd logic there

Like I said - prescriptions will be free in scotland

expat - i get really mad about prescription charges, not for my ADS, im happy to pay. But my mum doesnt pay - if she doesnt have her tablets she will definately die, no question, so she doesnt have to pay. My friend had really bad asthma, because if she didnt have her medication she only might die, she had to pay

the research supports the efficacy of mental health and exercise.