As a former hockey player and umpire I like to think I know my way round sports centres, but a trip to Meadowbank last week proved enlightening.
Gyms and badminton courts are what everyone expects, but what caught my eye was the falls prevention programme offered by Edinburgh Leisure.
No, not advanced judo classes, but the “Steady Steps” scheme it delivers in conjunction with the Edinburgh Health & Social Care Partnership, which is for anyone who has had or is at risk of having a fall, mainly older people.
As most of us know, for the frail and elderly a fall can be catastrophic, if not life-ending, so preventing falls should help relieve strain on already struggling accident and emergency units, especially at this time of year.
And even if we don’t put it into practice, most of us appreciate the benefits of leading a more active life, and that exercise can improve mental health, so organisations like Edinburgh Leisure should be seen as integral to the NHS, not distinct from it.
