Achievements

During the past 9 years, Wirral Heart Beat have - with great assistance and support from Cheshire Fire Service and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service - established "Outreach" gyms in Birkenhead, Bromborough, Ellesmere Port, Heswall, Upton, Wallasey and West Kirby Community Fire Stations.

These "Outreach" gyms (which open daily) enable patients who have completed their Cardiac Rehabilitation Programme at Wirral Heart Support Centre, St Catherine's Hospital, Birkenhead or the Countess of Chester Hospital's Cardiac Rehabilitation Department, Chester, to continue regular exercise in a friendly and secure environment. The "Outreach" gyms are equipped witha full range of specialist exercise equipment purchased from leading British suppliers. All "Outreach" gyms are equipped witha defibrillator (supplied by our Charity) and regular training and refresher courses is provided to Gym Supervisors.

Currenly the gyms are attracting approximately 1700/1800 "visits" per month from ex-patients.

Gym users are asked for a "donation" of £1.50 each time they visit a gym. This money is used to provide insurance cover and pay for the costs of regular maintenance.

Sine their establishment, many of the "Outreach" gyms have become "social centres" in their own right with Gym Supervisors and Volunteers arranging a wide range of activities including theatre trips, coach outings to places of interest in North West England, raffles, etc.

Our Charity has spent over £140 000 in providing exercise equipment etc. and generally providing friendly and safe facilities for ex-patients and Firefighters based in Fire Stations where "Outreach" gyms are located.

We believe the partnership which has developed between our Charity and the 2 Fire Services is unique and could act as a pattern for heart health charities or groups in other areas of the United Kingdom.

For A List of Fire Station Gyms