'The Government-commissioned report on the performance of the NHS from Lord

Darzi paints a bleak picture of a system where “too many people are being let down”.

Despite the brilliance of our health professionals, the NHS is overwhelmed, where

demand outstrips available support, and the long shadow of an ageing society with a

trend for deteriorating health making projections even more existential.

Change is required, of course, but the fundamental change needed is to slow the

demand for NHS services and improve our national health.

Health Secretary, Wes Streeting is completely right to say the NHS needs big shifts,

including getting services from sickness to prevention and from hospitals to GPs

and community services.

The opportunity now for our new Government is to unlock the full potential of sport

and physical activity to help meet this need, and deploy our nation’s gyms, pools,

and leisure centres without hesitation, urgently and at scale.

We know the essential role these facilities can perform, evidenced in the recent MSK

Hubs report which documents how the sector can help address one of the major

reasons for long-term sickness. The sector should be empowered to expand its role,

not only through a national programme for MSK across the UK, but also through

similar programmes for mental health, diabetes, and cancer rehabilitation services.

Today’s report will generate much debate and soul searching, but we need to move

collectively and quickly to solutions. Our sector provides solutions every day to

millions of people by supporting them to maintain good health and helping address

poor health. It is ready to support our government on this project of national

importance and help secure an NHS fit for the future.'