Putting lives back on track

THE OCL team, back, from left, Jo Parry, Jason Bailey, Jackie Hanley. Seated, Patrick Wolstenholme. Not on photograph, Stuart Cheetham

THE Oldham Community Leisure Health and Physical Activity Team have been nominated for a Pride in Oldham award.

The team, consisting of Jason Bailey, Stuart Cheetham, Jackie Hanley, Jo Parry and Patrick Wolstenholme, looks after people with specialist conditions who use the OCL facilities to help improve their health and offer them support through physical activity rather than medication.

They deal with those who come through the GP referral scheme and musculoskeletal scheme and help reduce the burden of care on the NHS.

Louise Walton, head of human resources at OCL, who nominated the team, said: "They are all very knowledgeable, caring and wonderful people who put people at ease and help to improve their daily lives."

She said: "For this team to be recognised for their hard work and improvements that they bring to the local community will be wonderful. I hope that they can be recognised with an award."

Jackie Hanley said: "We are really pleased to be nominated. “Our aim is to help improve people’s lives through support and motivation. The team work hard to ensure people get the best possible support help and guidance”.

"People who have attended the scheme, have found they now visit their GP less and lead a more active healthier lifestyle”

She said: "It is very rewarding to help someone who is ill or not very active, they slowly get their fitness back again and become more confident in themselves”.