Pool loss is huge public health issue, warn GPs

GPs at Aviemore Medical Practice have said they are increasingly concerned at the unavailability of swimming for residents in Aviemore and surrounding population describing it as a "huge, huge public health issue".

They believe that the lack of access to the Macdonald Aviemore Resort as part of an affordable scheme for local residents will create both short-term and long-term health issues.

The practice, which has 5500 registered patients, is run by seven GPs who are in full support of the Aviemore Save Our Swimming 2018 campaign.

They prescribe at least two-and-a-half hours of exercise should be under taken per week to help combat heart disease, cancer, dementia and mental health conditions and other illnesses.

Dr Alastair Appleby said: "Exercise is a key predictor of good physical and mental health and swimming is a form of exercise that people can sometimes do if they have pain or disability that prevents other forms of activity.

"Everyone who comes to a Healthy Heart clinic will get advice about appropriate exercise; everybody who is diagnosed with high blood pressure or diabetes will get similar advice and we would encourage them to exercise for at least two-and-a-half hours per week.

"Swimming provides a vigorous cardiovascular workout but with very little pressure on the joints and back.

"A lot of patients have not been swimming since the HLH was withdrawn at the resort at the end of August but we do not know exact numbers.

"Leisure and exercise facilities are a key part of promoting wellbeing and we will see the consequences immediately with patients presenting mental health issues and chronic pain and in the years to come with high levels of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and stroke."

He said one of the great things about the "walk-in" Aviemore pool is that it is accessible to people with a whole range of health and mobility problems. "It has been a crucial part of a lot of people's treatment," said Dr Appleby.

"Exercise is very close to the world's best treatment if not the best treatment for several conditions for poor mood for mental health; chronic pain; weight loss. If we 'save money' on swimming we will spend it many times over on health costs and we appeal to both sides to come to a rapid agreement which allows our community to once again enjoy the health benefits, and the fun, of swimming at the excellent Macdonald Aviemore Resort facilities."

Mr Iain Gray, practice business manager, said: "We have seven GP partners and it has been discussed at meetings and we are all 100 per cent behind the SOS 2018 campaign.

"One of the things we are most pleased about with the campaign is that it has been very much a pro-swimming movement and no anti-Macdonald Aviemore Resort sentiment.

"As the only health service in town this is exactly the sort of community campaign we have to be helping to promote."

Mr Gray believes local residents "feel a degree of ownership" of the swimming pool "because a lot of public money went into the redevelopment of the resort".

He said: "Not to have public access to it feels like a big kick in the teeth to the local community.

"From a health point of view we are exceptional keen to see the two parties back at the table. We do not see a light at the end of the tunnel at this time and this is a huge, huge public health issue."

Macdonald Hotels received around £8.5m to redevelop the Aviemore resort including the construction of the leisure arena in the early 2000s.

An HIE spokesperson said: "The 2002-03 annual report from Moray, Badenoch and Strathspey Enterprise shows HIE awarded a funding package of £8.5 million – including £600,000 from the European Regional Development Fund – towards total project costs of £30 million.

"The figure is for the sum approved by HIE rather than actual cash paid out which may be different."

It is believed the full total was drawn down by the firm.

The council said there had been no new developments on the wrangle. Macdonald's did not comment.