It is with great sadness that I write to mourn the closure of Saturday morning cardiac rehabilitation classes at the sports centre in town.

These classes were some of the only ones in Basingstoke at times suitable for working people.

The classes have kept me fit and healthy for seven years after my heart attack.

Fellow attendees Stephen Bradley and Chris Lillie have been going to these classes for more than 20 years and attribute their good health and extended years to access to these vital classes. 

So I do not doubt that these cuts will lead to repeat visits to hospital and earlier deaths of loved ones in Basingstoke. 

It is a vital loss of a public service. They really are killer cuts.

The operator, GLL, says that despite its best efforts, it has insufficient referrals from the cardiac team at the North Hampshire hospital to continue these classes. 

People in Basingstoke and Deane have not stopped having heart attacks or cardiac problems, so you have to ask where the failures lie. 

With the cardiac team at North Hampshire Hospital?  Or at the door of GLL? 

British Heart Foundation guidance is for a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week.

GLL has reduced these classes from 180 minutes a week to just 60 minutes in the space of three years that it has operated the sports centre. 

Better hope you do not have a heart problem in Basingstoke.

Paul Basham

Basingstoke 

We approached GLL for a comment on the letter.

A spokesperson for Better (registered trademark and trading name of GLL) said: "We are very happy to correct the misunderstanding regarding our healthy lives programme at Basingstoke Sports Centre.

"It wasn't a cardiac rehabilitation class that was closed but rather a standalone circuits session run as part of the Healthwise programme.

"Cardiac rehab customers still enjoy a warm welcome at the centre but due to a decline in referrals we are signposting these customers to a variety of alternative classes and sessions in centre, including four other Healthwise Referral sessions - so they can get their 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week.

"Many of our customers are fitter as a consequence of taking up regular exercise and can attend our studio classes, gym or have a swim at any time of the working day without restrictions - a very positive benefit of staying with us."

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