What is Healthwise?
Tailored for all abilities, Healthwise provides a supportive environment to:
- Improve knowledge and skills for managing your health through movement
- Build confidence and self efficacy in daily activities
- Enhance overall wellbeing and quality of life
Our dedicated Healthwise team is your key to success. They'll provide expert guidance and support every step of the way, offering:
- Personalised physical activity plans tailored to your needs
- Healthy living guidance
- Regular progress monitoring and programme adjustments
- A supportive and encouraging environment to reach your goals
Hear from our Healthwise members on how this fantastic programme has helped them improve their way of living and manage existing medical conditions.
WHO IS HEALTHWISE FOR?
The scheme is for West Oxfordshire residents or patients registered with a West Oxfordshire GP/doctors surgery who are physically inactive. It is designed to assist people with long-term health conditions or other specialist requirements that may be a barrier to accessing mainstream activity in leisure centers.
Common Reasons for Referral:
- High Blood Pressure
- Diabetes
- Asthma
- Circulatory/respiratory diseases
- Depression and Anxiety
- Arthritis
The scheme is suitable for individuals who are:
- aged 16 years and over
- Residents of West Oxfordshire
- In need of support to make lifestyle changes
WHAT ACTIVITIES ARE AVAILABLE?
Healthwise offers a diverse selection of exercise classes and activities to accommodate all skill levels. A certified GP Referral Instructor is available to help members choose the right classes that align with their specific medical conditions and requirements. The physical activity program could feature options such as:
- Sessions in the gym
- Group fitness classes
- GP referral classes
- Aquatic exercises
- Phase IV Cardiac Rehabilatation
- Better Balance
- Cancer Rehabilatation
Supervised Gym Sessions
The session is based on the gym floor with supervision where you will get tailored exercises for your individual needs, motivation and ability to discuss techniques.
Availability: Mondays 11:00
Duration: 60 minutes
Instructor: Sam
(Booking is only available to Healthwise members.)
Healthwise Swim Sessions
Dedicated swim session. Suitable for competent adult swimmers able to swim 25m unaided.
Availability: Wednesdays 2.30pm
Instructor: Heidi
Duration: 60 minutes
(Booking is only available to Healthwise members.)
Cancer rehabilitation
Every year, more and more people are receiving successful cancer treatment. Many people affected by cancer want to make positive changes in their lives. Taking steps to be physically active as part of a healthier lifestyle can be part of this.
Evidence has shown that physical activity can help prevent or manage many of the conditions that cancer survivors may face. Our Cancer rehabilitation programme is dedicated to helping cancer survivors get more physically active and support cancer survivors take steps to make any healthy lifestyle changes that they may want to make.
Contact your GP for further information.
(Booking is only available to Healthwise members.)
PHASE IV CARDIAC CLASS
Phase IV Cardiac gym classes have been developed for graduates who have completed a Phase III programme and for individuals with established Coronary Heart Disease referred from their GP. Phase IV runs over 12 weeks. Classes are supervised by our fully qualified Cardiac Rehab Specialist Exercise Instructors.
How to register?
Following completion of the Phase III Cardiac Rehabilitation programme, you can be referred to continue into our Phase IV programme. You can also be assessed and referred by your GP. Once the referral is received, we will contact you to book your first appointment.
Sessions take place as follows:
Availability: Mondays 2.00pm. Thursday 11am
Duration: 60 minutes
Instructor: Heidi / Sam
(Booking is only available to Healthwise members.)
Better Balance
The Better Balance program focuses on improving strength, balance, and confidence in older adults through adaptive movement exercises led by Falls Prevention Specialists. Based on the FaME model, it teaches techniques like the backward chaining method to help individuals safely get up from the floor and prevent falls. This reduces falls-related injuries and hospital visits, and improves the quality of life, helping participants live independently for longer. It also offers a social element, reducing isolation and boosting well-being.
Who's suitable?
The program is ideal for those who:
Fear falling
Feel unstable
Have a history of falls (injurious or not)
Have low bone density or a family history of fractures
If you've had a fall in the last six months, consult a GP or Falls Liaison Service first. If unsure, contact the team for more guidance on whether the program is right for you.
Availability: Mondays, 1.15pm
Duration: 60 minutes
Instructor: Sam
Healthwise Pilates
Pilates centre yourself. Our Pilates classes come in all shapes and sizes, but they all focus on concentration and muscle control, for a highly effective workout.
Availability: Monday, 4pm
Duration: 45 minutes
Instructor: Kathy
(Booking is only available to Healthwise members.)
Eileen's Healthwise Testimonial
How can I join the programme?
Speak to your medical professional about Healthwise and how they can refer you into the service.
Contact the Healthwise Team on 01993 870127 or email healthwise.westoxfordshire@gll.org
West Oxfordshire Healthwise Activities Timetable
| Day | Time | Class | Centre |
| Monday | 11:00 - 12:00 | Supervised Gym | Windrush Leisure Centre |
| 13:15 - 14:15 | Better Balance (COMING SOON!) | Windrush Leisure Centre | |
| 14:00-15:00 | Phase IV Cardiac Rehab Supervised Gym | Windrush Leisure Centre | |
| 16:00 - 16:45 | Healthwise Pilates | Windrush Leisure Centre | |
| Tuesday | 10:00-11:00 | Supervised Gym | Chipping Norton Leisure Centre |
| 12:00 - 12:55 | Aquatics For Health | Carterton Leisure Centre | |
| Wednesday | 09:00 - 09:45 | Healthwise Pilates | Carterton Leisure Centre |
| 13:00 - 14:00 | Supervised Gym | Carterton Leisure Centre | |
| 14:30 - 15:30 | Healthwise Swim | Windrush Leisure Centre | |
| Thursday | 11:00 - 12:00 | Phase IV Cardiac Rehab Supervised Gym | Windrush Leisure Centre |
| Friday | 14:00 - 15:00 | Supervised Gym | Carterton Leisure Centre |