Healthy Living Case Study 2

Evaluation of the Exercise Referral Scheme - Health and well-being survey of a pilot project in West London

The evaluation involved a 15 month study that measured the health and well being benefits of participating in a community Exercise Referral Programme. The results were used to determine if the local Primary Care Trust and the Borough Council should invest in rolling out access to the programme across the whole of the borough. We tracked approximately 120 people during the project using a telephone and web based survey system, interviewing and gathering data on a 3 month or quarterly frequency.

In some cases the results do not support the programme or project under scrutiny and this was one such case. Although the exercise scheme was popular and delivered some useful results, the evidence was not strong enough that people were changing their lifestyles as a result of the project and so we used cost/basis evidence to show that the project had not been as successful as originally planned.

Client: London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham