This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
Doctors should prescribe outdoor exercise, LGA advises
The Local Government Association (LGA) has urged doctors in England and Wales to to prescribe ‘green space’ to overweight patients to encourage them do more exercise outdoors.
The body advised that prescriptions could provide free visits to national parks or gardening sessions at National Trust properties. It has called on the government to make the suggestion a universal policy to tackle the nation's obesity crisis and has urged NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups to drive the initiative forward.
Similar schemes are already in progress in various regions, including Dorset, where GPs prescribe walks, conservation work, gardening and sailing.
Izzi Seccombe, of the LGA, said: "There are some instances where rather than prescribing a pill, advising on some type of moderate physical activity outdoors could be far more beneficial to the patient.
"There are already some good examples where this is being piloted in the UK and it is something we should consider on a nationwide basis."
Dr Steve Mowle, of the Royal College of General Practitioners, commented: "Social prescribing schemes can certainly be beneficial to a patient's overall health and well-being - as some pilots have shown - but to be effective, there needs to be better integration between health and community services, so that GPs and our teams can signpost our patients most appropriately."
Latest News
16/02/2024 - 12:56
Hammersmith and Fulham Council has created a new alliance intended to clean dirty air and improve residents' health.
16/02/2024 - 10:44
Two million more GP appointments a month are being delivered for patients compared to the same month before the pandemic as part of the NHS primary care access recovery plan according to new NHS data.
15/02/2024 - 10:26
The Welsh Government has provided innovation funding of £380,000 to support two projects utilising technology in domiciliary care.
15/02/2024 - 10:13
The new Scottish health secretary has met with frontline staff at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.
14/02/2024 - 10:27
The North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT) has appointed three new Executive Directors to the Trust Board.
Product Features
UK Building Regulations highlight toxic gas and smoke from layers of paint built up over multiple redecorations as a major cause of permanent ill health or death in a building fire.
Their concern rose with discovery the flame retardant paints most widely used paint along escape routes have been ones which to this day counter-productively use emission of heavy toxic gas to smother flames which rapidly spread along walls if layers of paint delaminate in a fire.
Supplier Profiles
Northwich’s Victoria Infirmary (VIN) Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) has enabled more patients
Adveco, the commercial hot water specialist, announces the launch of live metering of domestic ho
Latest Features
Sarah Greenslade, public affairs and communications officer at the British Parking Association looks at some of the problems and innovations in healthcare parking
It’s easy to assume that the comms team is there to handle press enquiries and the occasional social media storm – but the reality is that strategic communications can make a measurable impact across the entire organisation, from operational to financial, when done properly
