New Activity Alliance report on healthcare professionals' role supporting disabled people

By GM Moving | 29 April 2025 | TAGS: Health, Disability sport

Three Greater Manchester case studies have been highlighted as part of a new Activity Alliance report on the role of healthcare professionals supporting disabled people to be active.

Bolton Community Stroke Team, Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, and Manchester Children’s Hospital were all featured in the report which was released to mark April’s World Health Day.

From their nationwide case studies, Activity Alliance identified 6 key features where healthcare professionals successful support disabled people into activity.

They were:

• Cross-sector collaboration,
• Lived-experience leadership,
• Commitment to inclusion,
• Community creation and mental wellbeing,
• Personalisation and staying in touch, and
• Upskilling through education, awareness and training.

The report also includes top tips for healthcare professionals, and a checklist for Integrated Care Systems forsupport on 'what good looks like.'

Sport England’s Active Lives data released last week (Thursday 24 April) found that just under half (48.5%) of people with a disability or long-term health condition are classed as active.

This compares to 68.9% of people without a disability or long-term health condition, a 20.4 percentage point inequality gap – down from 23 percentage points eight years ago.

Strategic Lead for Health Inequalities at GM Moving, Kate Harding, said:

“It’s great to read these fantastic examples from healthcare professionals in Greater Manchester working so hard to provide physical activity opportunities for their patients.

“GM Moving are collaborating closely with all parts of the healthcare system throughout the city region because we know how important physical activity is to healthy, happy lives.

“There’s lots more to do but we’re on the right track. Patients moving more, before, during, and after treatment will reduce the burden on the healthcare system in the future.”

Read the full Activity Alliance report here, where it is also available in Easy Read and British Sign Language formats. A short summary of the Greater Manchester case studies is below.

Case study: Health Improvement Practitioner in community stroke team

What? The Bolton Community Stroke Team used funding from NHS England to add a Health Improvement Practitioner to their team. Patients who have recently had a stroke can be referred to the Health Improvement Practitioner at any point in their journey.

So what? The Practitioner can signpost and advise on diet, nutrition etc or have regular appointments with the patients to monitor health and support accountability. This approach has enabled the team to build better relationships with community and sport, physical activity, and leisure providers. 

Now what? Supports secondary stroke prevention, support reintegration into the community, a healthy lifestyle and improve quality of life. Decrease waiting lists, length of stay, and re-referral rates.

Case study: Super Mash Up! at the Manchester Children's Hospital

What? Super Mash Up! is a sports and activity taster day hosted by the Manchester Children’s Hospital Spina Bifida Multidisciplinary Team. The event introduces children with mobility impairments and their families to different sporting activities. The event is championed by staff from the Manchester Children’s Hospital and is targeted at young patients with mobility impairments (in particular, spina bifida).

So what? The annual event is held at a weekend, in the regional arena in Manchester. Several sports activities (like a climbing wall, indoor athletics, tennis, cycling, archery) are set up for children to try. There is also an area called ‘Activity Street’ where local clubs and organisations can share information. Parents are invited through clinics, and there is no need to book.

Now what? Children and their siblings are introduced to sport in an inclusive family day-out at a sports venue which connects disabled children and their families with clubs and activities through experiencing several different sports first-hand. It also links physical activity organisations and hospital staff and enables continued rehabilitation outside of the hospital through community sport and activities.

Case study: Parkinson's Disease exercise group

What? Bolton NHS Foundation Trust run an 8-week Parkinson’s Disease exercise programme and connected pilot, prescribing physical activity in the local community on completion of the programme.  The programme is based in healthcare facilities, funded as part of the NHS services. It includes circuit sessions paired with advice sessions. The first and last sessions focus on outcomes and measures, whilst the middle six weeks focus on exercise.

So what? When patients approach the end of the 8-week programme, they are ‘prescribed’ further activity in the local community. Local activities are generally subsidised, and come at a small cost to the patients. The ‘prescribing’ team has a further check-in with the individual six weeks later to understand how they are progressing.

Now what? The service improves access to activity shortly after a Parkinson’s diagnosis, to set up or embed good habits early on and to support people through the progression of the condition. It supports patients to transition into exercise in their local communities from the 8-week NHS programme, in order to continue being active.

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