ukactive responds to Healthy Ageing report following inquiry by HSC Committee 

ukactive has issued a statement in response to today’s report from the Health and Social Care Committee following its inquiry into how physical activity can prevent ill health in older age. 

Clemency Lion, Director of Research, Policy and Communications at ukactive, said: “Today’s Healthy Ageing inquiry report highlights the central role of physical activity in healthy ageing and its importance in preventing illness and falls, as well as improving independence and mobility.  

“The UK must rethink its approach to ageing or the NHS will face increasingly insurmountable pressures from a physically inactive population. 

“As the Government looks to integrate its prevention agenda across all levels of the healthcare system, physical activity must be at the heart of this transformation. 

“We are pleased to see many of our policy calls reflected in the report’s recommendations. Our oral evidence highlighted the national infrastructure provided by our nation’s gyms, swimming pools and leisure centres to support the treatment and prevention of many illnesses and conditions which characterise later life. 

“The report’s recommendations for a greater appreciation of our sector and its potential to deliver on the Government’s health ambitions represent an important step. 

“We will continue to work with the Government to unlock the full potential of the physical activity sector and ensure an NHS fit for the future.” 

Evidence and recommendations 

ukactive provided a written submission and delivered oral evidence to support the Committee and highlight the untapped potential for the sector to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for people in later life. 

We welcome the recommendations – particularly those calling on the Government to: 

• Launch a “national movement campaign” to focus on those approaching retirement and the least active, with conversations focusing on challenging the negative assumptions around ageing. 

• Commission evidence-based programmes to reverse frailty, reduce falls and help prevent or delay dementia. 

• Remove barriers of accountability to empower government departments to work together to mobilise the role of physical activity to its fullest extent. This includes in planning regulation, in which physical activity facilities are often sidelined – something ukactive has been campaigning on with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government. 

• Recognise the importance of social prescribing as a core mechanism for increasing physical activity. 

• Embed conversations about physical activity as part of clinical practice, seeing health professionals encouraging people to be active. 

The report recommends the Government makes full use of the leisure and physical activity infrastructure and workforce to deliver both treatment and prevention, recognising these facilities are able to achieve this by its proximity to older people in local communities.  

As we have reiterated in our calls to Government, the contributions of the physical activity infrastructure mean it must be recognised as an extension of our healthcare system, and fully integrated to allow it to achieve its full potential. 

To read the Committee’s report in full, click here.