This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
Swimming saving health system £357m a year
New Swim England research has claimed that swimming is helping to save the health and social care system more than £357 million a year.
Swim England’s Value of Swimming report outlines how water-based activity is making a significant contribution to the health and well-being of the nation, with the association urging the government and healthcare professionals to ‘maximise the benefits’ swimming can offer to ‘help people live longer, better, happier lives’.
The in-depth study shows the vital role swimming plays in preventing, and treating, physical and mental health conditions. According to the analysis, the largest health savings are made up from dementia (£139,546,106) and strokes (£100,046,173). Other key savings are made in diabetes (£37,446,191), colon cancer (£10,433,330), breast cancer (£9,830,341) and depression (£9,501,792).
The report also reveals how £51,048,348 is saved as a result of reduced GP and psychotherapy visits by those who swim regularly, while 1.4 million adults feel that swimming had significantly reduced their symptoms of anxiety and or depression. Therefore, Swim England is also calling for more social prescribing of swimming by health professionals to further reduce GP visits and increase cost savings in health and social care.
Jane Nickerson, CEO of Swim England, said: “This report proves what those involved with swimming have known for a long time – that it truly has the power to help people live longer, better, happier lives. For the first time, it has highlighted how swimming saves our health and social care system hundreds of millions of pounds a year and the vital role it plays in tackling some of our biggest health conditions.
“However, we will only be able to maximise the benefits swimming can offer the nation by working in partnership with government, healthcare professionals and the wider swimming sector and we look forward to working together with them to deliver on the recommendations in the report.”
Latest News
16/02/2024 - 12:56
Hammersmith and Fulham Council has created a new alliance intended to clean dirty air and improve residents' health.
16/02/2024 - 10:44
Two million more GP appointments a month are being delivered for patients compared to the same month before the pandemic as part of the NHS primary care access recovery plan according to new NHS data.
15/02/2024 - 10:26
The Welsh Government has provided innovation funding of £380,000 to support two projects utilising technology in domiciliary care.
15/02/2024 - 10:13
The new Scottish health secretary has met with frontline staff at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.
14/02/2024 - 10:27
The North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT) has appointed three new Executive Directors to the Trust Board.
Product Features
UK Building Regulations highlight toxic gas and smoke from layers of paint built up over multiple redecorations as a major cause of permanent ill health or death in a building fire.
Their concern rose with discovery the flame retardant paints most widely used paint along escape routes have been ones which to this day counter-productively use emission of heavy toxic gas to smother flames which rapidly spread along walls if layers of paint delaminate in a fire.
Supplier Profiles
Northwich’s Victoria Infirmary (VIN) Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) has enabled more patients
Adveco, the commercial hot water specialist, announces the launch of live metering of domestic ho
Latest Features
Sarah Greenslade, public affairs and communications officer at the British Parking Association looks at some of the problems and innovations in healthcare parking
It’s easy to assume that the comms team is there to handle press enquiries and the occasional social media storm – but the reality is that strategic communications can make a measurable impact across the entire organisation, from operational to financial, when done properly
