1-GreatLife has signed a deal with local GPs to offer its lifestyle modification programme to patients in South West Essex.

The 12-week course, funded by South West Essex NHS Primary Care Trust, was commissioned by the 18-strong Beacon Cluster of GPs in Basildon, and will be delivered to around 400 patients.

1-GreatLife is a partnership between Georgina Jupp, managing director of training provider CK Academy, and Dr. Robert Colby, lead clinician of the Beacon Cluster.

CK Academy’s trainers will now be trained to fit in as members of each GP’s team in order to take part in NHS Primary Care.

The lifestyle modification programme, designed by Robert Colby, combines a surgery-based introduction and assessments with a series of physical activity sessions and seminars held in local GP surgeries and nearby amenities, such as community centres, halls and schools.

Georgina Jupp said: “Currently, over half the population is overweight, one in five are obese and the cost of treating obesity and its consequences are between £990m and £1.2bn.

“Our trainers will help deliver proactive and well-rounded solutions for a range of conditions that are positively affected lifestyle related components, such as physical activity, healthy eating and personal development techniques.”

During the year-long project, the trainers will work with the patients referred within each practice to set goals, plan and support long-term lifestyle changes, record patient measurements and monitor and provide individual feedback.