A scheme that has helped thousands of patients across Darlington regain their fitness is being overhauled with the help of health and exercise professionals.

The Life Enhancing Activity Programme (Leap), which involves a programme of exercise prescribed by a GP to complement medicinal treatment, has been undertaken by patients across the town since it was introduced in 1996.

The 32-week gym project has been used successfully to treat people for ailments including diabetes, heart disease and obesity, with each exercise programme tailored to meet the needs of the patient.

Now, almost ten years on, Darlington Primary Care Trust (PCT) and Darlington Borough Council are working with Northumbria University sports scientist Mark Edwards to ensure the project remains as efficient as possible, and have identified several key points to improve their service.

These include:

* Tightening administration to keep track of patients and their progress through the scheme;

l Introducing a more structured appointment system for the induction of clients;

l Enhancing feedback from patients to improve the initiative still further;

l Shortening the course to eight to 14 weeks to make it less daunting for patients;

l Having block induction dates so patients can support each other throughout the course and thereby reduce the fall-out rate;

l Introducing a formal exit programme so patients are not simply left to their own devices after the course ends and are encouraged to keep exercising;

l A new database of patient information which can be easily accessed by health professionals to establish progress.

Ruth Brown, healthy lifestyles officer at the PCT, said the findings would be used to reshape the service.

"We discovered that it is a good scheme and it does work, but it could be better still," she said.

"The concept remains as strong as ever - use physical activity to improve people's health rather than just rely on medication."

Councillor Lee Vasey, council cabinet member for leisure services, said: "The scheme has been an amazing success and I'm convinced it is responsible for maintaining patients' health when otherwise it could have worsened.

"That said, we should never rest on our laurels and we are delighted we are now in a position to take the scheme forward."