Health Referral Programme
Supporting Moray to Move, Manage, and Thrive for over 30 years.
Our Health Referral Programme supports people to improve their health, confidence, and quality of life through safe, supported physical activity. The programme is designed for individuals who would benefit from exercise but may need additional guidance, reassurance, or specialist support due to a health condition or injury.
Delivered by highly qualified instructors, the programme provides a welcoming, inclusive environment where everyone is supported at their own pace.
Why join?
Being active can have a huge impact on both your physical and mental health. Our tailored approach helps you:
- Manage and improve conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis, asthma and more
- Increase strength, mobility and confidence
- Improve your mood, sleep and overall wellbeing
- Build lasting, positive habits
- Connect with others on a similar journey in a friendly, inclusive setting
Who is this for?
The Health Referral Programme is open to adults who would benefit from supported physical activity due to a health condition, long-term illness, injury, or reduced confidence in exercise.
We accept referrals for a wide range of conditions, including (but not limited to):
Cardiovascular conditions
Diabetes (Type 1, Type 2, and pre-diabetes)
Respiratory conditions
Neurological conditions
Musculoskeletal conditions and injuries
Arthritis and joint pain
Post-rehabilitation or recovery following illness or injury
Mental health conditions
Reduced mobility or low confidence with exercise
If you are unsure whether the programme is right for you, we are always happy to discuss your circumstances and help guide you.
What to expect?
We aim to make the process simple, supportive, and reassuring from start to finish.
Referral
You can be referred by a GP or other healthcare professional – or you can refer yourself. We welcome self-referrals and are happy to discuss your situation to see how the programme can support you.
Initial consultation
Once referred, you’ll be invited to attend an initial consultation with our Health Referral team. This gives us the chance to:
Discuss your health history and goals
Understand any limitations or concerns
Carry out basic health checks where appropriate
Personalised exercise plan
Based on your consultation, we’ll create a personalised exercise plan tailored to your needs, abilities, and medical considerations.
Supported sessions
You’ll take part in supervised gym sessions or specialist classes, with guidance and encouragement from qualified instructors throughout.
Ongoing support and progression
We regularly review progress, adapt programmes as needed, and support you to build confidence, strength, and independence in physical activity.
Specialist classes and sessions
We offer a range of supervised sessions and specialist classes as part of the Health Referral Programme, including the use of equipment such as the Moto-med.
Please see the timetable below for current session times.
| Monday | 10:15 – 11:00 | Health Referral (gym) |
| Tuesday | 09:15 – 10:00 | Health Referral (gym) |
| Tuesday | 10:15 – 11:00 | Health Referral (gym) |
| Wednesday | 10:15 – 11:00 | Health Referral (gym) |
| Thursday | 09:15 – 10:00 | Health Referral (gym) |
| Thursday | 10:15 – 11:00 | Health Referral (gym) |
| Friday | 11:30 – 12:15 | Health Referral (studio 1) |
Meet The Team
Helen Graham
GP Referral Coordinator
Level 2 (YMCA) Gym Instructors
Level 3 (WRIGHT Foundation) GP Referral
Level 4 (OriGym) Developing Physical Activity and Weight Management Strategies for Diabetic Clients
I have worked at Moray Leisure Centre since 1994, starting my career as a lifeguard, a role I held for six years. After spending three years travelling in New Zealand, I returned to Moray Leisure Centre where I settled into my role as a Gym Instructor.
In 2008, I was given the opportunity to begin working on the GP Referral Programme as an assistant, a role I have proudly remained part of ever since. In 2018, I became the GP Referral Co-ordinator.
I absolutely love my job. It is incredibly rewarding to support people with a wide range of illnesses and injuries, helping them move into exercise, improve their fitness, and feel healthier, stronger, and more confident. My passion is helping people feel good about themselves, no matter what challenges they face.
Jill Morgan
GP Referral Counsellor & Instructor
Level 3 GP Referral
Level 4 Developing Physical Activity and Weight Management Strategies for Diabetic Clients
I originally qualified as a fitness instructor in 1991 with Level 2 Exercise to Music. Since then, I’ve continued to expand my fitness journey, training across a wide range of group exercise formats and developing my skills year after year.
I am now a Level 3 Personal Trainer, with my work spanning both fitness classes and the GP Referral Programme. More than three decades on, I’m still teaching, still learning, and still passionate about helping people move better, feel stronger, and enjoy being active.
34 years later – and I still absolutely love my job.
Lydia Horne
GP Referral Counsellor & Instructor
Level 3 GP Referral
Level 4 Developing Physical Activity and Weight Management Strategies for Diabetic Clients
I began my journey at Moray Leisure Centre as a lifeguard before progressing into fitness instruction, gaining qualifications in Aquacise, Gym Instruction, and Indoor Cycling.
I later completed my Level 4 qualification in Developing Physical Activity and Weight Management Strategies for Diabetic Clients, alongside GP Referral training.
I find my role incredibly rewarding and a genuine pleasure to do, especially seeing people improve their health, confidence, and overall wellbeing through physical activity.
How to join?
If you’re a participant:
You can join the Health Referral Programme in two ways:
Through a healthcare professional: Ask your GP, practice nurse, or physiotherapist to refer you.
Self-referral: Complete our Health Referral Form – you can refer yourself directly, no professional needed.
If you’re a health professional:
To refer a patient, please complete our online Health Referral Form. Once we receive it, we’ll contact your patient to arrange their initial consultation and get them started safely.
Take the first step towards feeling your best!
If you have any questions, call the Health Referral team on 01343 562742, or drop by the reception at Moray Leisure Centre and ask for the “Health Referral Programme”. We’ll be delighted to help you get started and welcome you into our community.
Submit a referral
If you would like more information, are unsure about eligibility, or want to discuss referral options, please contact us on 📞01343 562742. We’re always happy to talk through your situation and help you take the first step towards feeling fitter, stronger, and more confident.
Click HereFrequently Asked Questions
Health assessment: free of charge. Your first consultation is included so we can create a plan that’s right for you.
Sessions: £4.50 per session on a pay-as-you-go basis.
FitLife members: Sessions are included at no extra cost, along with full access to gym facilities and other fitness classes.
No hidden costs: All support and guidance from our qualified Health Referral team is included in the session price.
The Health Referral Programme is open to adults who would benefit from supported exercise due to a health condition, long-term illness, injury, reduced mobility, or low confidence with physical activity.
We accept a broad range of referrals, including but not limited to:
Cardiovascular conditions
Diabetes and pre-diabetes
Respiratory conditions
Musculoskeletal conditions and injuries
Arthritis and joint pain
Neurological conditions
Mental health conditions
Post-rehabilitation or recovery
If you’re unsure whether the programme is suitable for you, please contact us — we’re happy to discuss your individual circumstances.
You can join in two ways:
Through a healthcare professional: Ask your GP, practice nurse, or physiotherapist to refer you.
Self-referral: You can refer yourself by completing our Health Referral Form. We welcome self-referrals and will guide you through the process.
Initial consultation: We’ll meet with you to discuss your health history, goals, and any limitations, and carry out basic health checks where appropriate.
Personalised exercise plan: Based on your consultation, we’ll create a tailored programme to suit your needs and abilities.
Supported sessions: You’ll participate in supervised sessions and/or specialist classes, guided by qualified instructors.
Ongoing support: We regularly review progress and adapt your programme to help you build confidence, strength, and independence.
No – you can attend on a pay-as-you-go basis at £4.50 per session.
However, a FitLife membership includes all Health Referral sessions, the gym, and fitness classes, making it great value if you plan to attend regularly.
There’s no fixed length — your programme is personalised to your needs. Many participants attend weekly sessions over several months, with progress reviewed regularly.
Absolutely. All exercises are tailored to your medical history, current abilities, and personal goals. Our qualified Health Referral team are trained in working with a wide range of health conditions and may refer you back to your GP if required.
Call 01343 562742, or visit the reception at Moray Leisure Centre and ask for the Health Referral Programme. We’ll be delighted to answer your questions and help you get started.
Yes – GPs, physiotherapists, and other healthcare professionals can complete the online Health Referral Form. Once received, our team will contact the patient to arrange their initial consultation.