GPs in parts of England will start prescribing walking and cycling in a trial to help improve mental and physical well-being and tackle health disparities across the UK.
The trial runs until 2025 and marks an acceptance that it is not only health budgets that can improve people’s well-being, but a holistic approach across government that is needed to meet the challenges facing health and care services.
The Department for Transport announced that £12.7 million will be available to 11 local authorities for social prescriptions, as well as projects like adult cycle training, walking groups and free bike loans.
The pilots are part of a UK plan that aims to evaluate the impact of these activities on individuals’ health, on reduced GP appointments and patients’ reliance on medication. Several Government departments and agencies are working together on the project.
The pilots will run in 11 areas: Bath and North East Somerset, Bradford, Cornwall, Cumbria, Doncaster, Gateshead, Leeds, Nottingham, Plymouth, Suffolk and Staffordshire.
Advocacy Action: Is it possible to pool budgets from different departments in order to holistically tackle health and social challenges? Could you ask about such an idea and whether it could be piloted in your country or region? Are there health interest groups in your parliament for issues other than diabetes that are complimentary such as eye health, obesity, heart and stroke, general cardiovascular groups, whom you could approach and work with on such an idea? Let PDGN know how you get on?
