6 TALKBACK PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Simple changes to one’s lifestyle that encourage more exercise can improve mental as well as physical wellbeing
Helping GPs to encourage physical A NEW toolkit has been devised to help GPs encourage physical activity. Sport England has teamed up with the Royal College of GPs (RCGP) to launch the Active Practice Charter that inspires and celebrates GP practices that are taking steps to increase activity in their patients and staff. With one in four people saying they would be more active if it was recommended by a GP or nurse, the charter includes a toolkit that will support time-poor GPs to raise the subject of activity with patients and achieve Active Practice status. The charter will support around 8,000 GP practices in the UK and help them raise awareness of the simple changes that can be made to improve the physical and mental wellbeing of patients and staff. Physical inactivity is estimated to cost the nation £7.4 billion a year. Sport England chief executive Tim Hollingsworth said: “As trusted sources of information, GPs
TALKBACK l AUTUMN 2019
Regular exercise can cut the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke by as much as 35% and practice teams have a real opportunity to start discussions that help it become the new normal in their community – for prevention as well as treatment. “This toolkit will help busy GPs talk to patients about getting active and recommend local opportunities as part of their routine practice.” Research shows that regular physical activity can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke by as much as 35% and decrease the risk of early death by as much as 30%. The charter builds on previous work
aiming to boost the nation’s activity levels, including an initiative that sees GP practices encouraged to develop closer links with their local parkrun to become certified “parkrun practices”. However, while many GPs already promote physical activity, barriers to prescribing exercise or discussing physical activity have been identified – for example, GPs not having enough time in consultations to have effective conversations with patients. “Busy GPs can’t be expected to do everything when it comes to getting the nation more active, but we can play a vital role in starting the conversation with patients,” said Dr Andrew Boyd, RCGP clinical champion for physical activity and lifestyle. “By making small changes in our own workplace – using standing desks, encouraging active transport for staff, and partnering with local physical
