Moves towards making NHS care more personalised could see physical activity become a "miracle cure".

That is according to Paralympic legend and ukactive chair Tanni Grey-Thompson, who has called on the NHS and health professionals to make better use of the expertise within the physical activity sector.

Speaking to health leaders at the NHS Health and Care Innovation Expo in Manchester on 4 September, Grey-Thompson said personalised care can harness the power of the physical activity sector in prevention.

Personalised care features prominently in the NHS Long Term Plan and the government has set a target of reaching 2.5 million people through personalised care by 2024.

Grey-Thompson said the physical activity sector could help to ensure that the personalised care model can be scaled nationwide, allowing more people to manage their health conditions in a way that is right for them.

“Physical inactivity can have a profound impact on health, significantly increasing the chance of developing a long-term condition or co-morbidity," she said.

“Personalised care will allow the NHS to use the miracle cure of physical activity more than it’s ever been able to before.

“Physical activity is able to treat, manage and prevent more than 20 preventable health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, many cancers, and a wide range of mental health conditions.

“The roll-out of personalised care provides a unique opportunity for health professionals in the NHS to access the expertise, and the facilities, of local community providers to support patients improve their health outcomes.

“The physical activity sector is committed to unlocking its under-utilised capacity to support an ageing population – and it’s vital we do this in collaboration with the health sector.”