Keeping older people fit and healthy – how the NHS and volunteer sectors can work together
The Health and Social Care Committee continues its inquiry the role of physical exercise in helping older people live happy, healthy, longer lives.
The inquiry is happening amid a backdrop of England’s population becoming older on average, more people spending their later years in ill health, and activity levels decreasing, according to a 2023 report by Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty.
Meeting details
In this session, the cross-party Committee will explore opportunities for greater collaboration between health, local government, voluntary, leisure and sport services in local areas, and look at examples of best practice.
Among the witnesses are providers of services from local authorities, the National Academy for Social Prescribing, and charities including UKActive and Sport England.
MPs are likely to question how the leisure sector can meet the physical activity needs of older people and play a stronger role in preventing frailty, and the role of social prescribing as a way to treat illnesses.
There may also be questions on how funding and commissioning models can better support long-term behaviour change and collaboration across health, care, and community services.