Options ? GP won't sign gym referral letter

BoltonMinx

Hi folks

My blood pressure is above the maximum allowed by the gym so they want a referral letter signed by my GP.

I toddled along to reception and requested an appointment to discuss this and get it signed. Was informed by the receptionist that they have made a decision not to sign these forms anymore following legal advice.

The gym won't budge and have told me to get a refund of monies paid via work (corporate discounted membership). Obviously, not the outcome I was looking for.

Any suggestions ?

Stonk

I can understand the GP's point of view. I respectfully suggest that this should tell you something - that someone with high blood pressure shouldn't be doing many of the types of exercise that are available in the gym. However, there are plenty of excellent ways of exercising outside the gym that will not be risky to you, and which will work to bring down your blood pressure to a point where the gym will let you join safely later on.

BoltonMinx

Hi,

The GP has a blanket policy, its not a refusal to sign my form specifically, they simply wont sign any. I only joined the gym after a chat with my GP and diabetes care team in the first place, also, the form has a section for recomended exercises and what to avoid.

The surgery also don't participate in the exercise referral scheme which is a shame. I'm trying to see if I can do anything about it as I struggle to motivate myself at the moment and want to use the personal trainer sessions I got as a present - I can't get a refund on these and the trainer also wont do private sessions without the referral letter.

Im rather frustrated as I need to exercise to get my BP down and neither organisation seem to be bothered about obstructing my access to these facilities.

mini

How annoying when you try & do something positive to improve your general health, I see the legal aspect to it as well. When I joined the gym my blood pressure was considered high, I had to sign something a disclaimer type for them & was ok to continue, not very helpful for you I know but would it be worth asking at other gyms? A few years back I managed to get my BP down to a safer level by 30 minute walk each day, problem was I got bored with just walking & people asking if my car was in for it's MOT etc.

BoltonMinx

Hi Mini

I wish I could, but I cant really afford to join the only other local gym at £25 per month, this gym is actually discounted through work to £50 per year.

Its annoying I can't self-certify as I presume its only for legal reasons, such as if I keel over :eek: The instructor has already decided to limit the equipment I use which they do through your membership card that you insert into each machine. So its not like Im going to start lifting weights or anything

mini

I like the sound of the card system, my gym must be prehistoric! Does it have a pool? Just thought swimming would be good exercise for you in my non expert amateur gym member status or another swimming pool where you could pay as you go, not quite the same as your bargain price for a year though!

Sorry I can't think of anything else atm, I'll come back if I do

elisebutt65

Instead of going via the receptionist, why don't you get an appointment to have a chat with your GP and explain??

After all it's in your best interest - what if you died or got ill due to lack of exercise, caused by his not signing your letter???

rushnowt

Hi Boltonminx,

Sorry to read of your troubles and frustration over this.

just wondered, do you smoke ? if so try to stop or at least severly cut down on them, maybe try to do some mild form of excersises at home, we don't have to go to a gym to get fit, just walking can increase our fitness levels. ensure your sticking to a good diet, which i'm sure your obviously are doing as you've mentioned diabetes, just take another look and see if there are any improvements you can make. hopefully with a few changes you can bring your blood pressure down a little and you've got a far better chance of getting the referral signed by your doctor. I agree with the poster who suggests going to see your gp tho and explain everything to him, he may take a different view if you do this, but ultimately your health is his/her concern and it would be very unwise to agree to something that could put your health at risk.

I totally understand your frustrations, but you have to see it from their point of view also. Good luck with it & take care x

Toothsmith

BoltonMinx wrote:

Hi folks

My blood pressure is above the maximum allowed by the gym so they want a referral letter signed by my GP.

Could I just clarify who took your blood pressure?

Did you have to quote a figure given by your doctor at some point in the past, or did they take it themselves at the time of your joining?

If it's the former, then get an appointment with your doctor for an up-to-date figure, and explain your difficulties at the time if it's still over the limit.

If it was the gym that took your pressure, how far over were you? Is it worth just getting it done again on a different day? If you were stressed/rushed when it was done it would be a bit higher anyway. Have it rechecked on a calm day!

If it was over by a bit, then do more walking, use stairs instead of lifts, park your car further away from your destination, get off the bus a stop early - little things that just increase your activity level. Then go back to the gym after about a month and see if it's made a difference.

Good luck.

Savvy_Sue

Toothsmith wrote:

Could I just clarify who took your blood pressure?

Did you have to quote a figure given by your doctor at some point in the past, or did they take it themselves at the time of your joining?

If it's the former, then get an appointment with your doctor for an up-to-date figure, and explain your difficulties at the time if it's still over the limit.

If it was the gym that took your pressure, how far over were you? Is it worth just getting it done again on a different day? If you were stressed/rushed when it was done it would be a bit higher anyway. Have it rechecked on a calm day!

This is good advice from Toothsmith, having it taken in different situations can make it vary very widely! Can't get my GP to get a sensible reading ... fortunately he agrees I can use my own readings at home!

trace-j

How about writing off to your local Primary Care Trust explaining what has happened. If there is no referral scheme it may shed some light on the blanket refusal to sign the GP is going on about.