The Provision of Community-based Clinically Supervised Exercise for Chronic Conditions in Carlow

TITLE: The Provision of Community-based Clinically Supervised Exercise for Chronic Conditions in Carlow
PROJECT STATUS: Project commenced in March 2022 and concluded in March 2023

In 2021, the PACC Core Stakeholders undertook a short but comprehensive consultation process, designed to deepen understanding of the barriers limiting the opportunities of people with chronic conditions from participating in regular, appropriate and accessible physical activity. Participants in the consultation included individuals living with chronic conditions, health and social care professionals and community-based physical activity providers. The consultation emphasised the importance of structured and supported exercise services being available in communities, while also highlighting the value of, and benefit from, group-based exercise programmes.

Against that backdrop, the PACC Core Stakeholders sought to commission a clinically supervised exercise provider to extend and adapt its service in a community in which no such service existed. ExWell Medical was selected as the exercise provider and in collaboration with SETU Carlow, Carlow Sports Partnership and other local partners, the ExWell model of clinically supervised exercise provision was launched in Carlow.

Over the course of 2022 and into the early parts of 2023, ExWell continued to provide weekly supervised exercise programmes to participants, initially in the SETU facility and also, in later stages, in Leighlinbridge. Participant numbers continued to grow, with between 70 and 75 participant visits per week.

In reviewing this pilot project, it was agreed that PACC’s role was not to fund ongoing delivery of any service, but to use pilot projects to develop new and innovative responses to physical activity barriers for people with chronic conditions. Having supported the introduction of ExWell to Carlow, it was agreed that PACC would cease its investment in this project and this took effect in March 2023.