Parkrun UK Encourage People To Keep Active
parkrun UK and the Royal College of General Practitioners are launching an initiative which could see patients being ‘prescribed’ outdoor physical activity rather than medication.
The initiative aims to improve the health and wellbeing of health care staff, patients and carers, reducing the need for lifelong medication. In 2017, the 1.11 billion prescriptions dispensed in communities across the UK cost £9.17bn.
GP practices will be encouraged to develop closer links with their local parkrun to become certified ‘parkrun practices’, with health care practitioners signposting patients and carers to parkrun, particularly those who are the least active and have long-term health conditions.
The initiative builds on research conducted by parkrun UK in 2017 that revealed hundreds of healthcare practitioners who are aware of the benefits of active lifestyles to health and wellbeing are already signposting patients to parkrun. It aims to further increase awareness amongst GPs, and all practice staff, of parkrun and the positive impact physical activity and volunteering can have on health and wellbeing.
Commenting on the initiative, head of health and wellbeing at parkrun, Chrissie Wellington says: “Our research tells us that GPs and other practice staff are already signposting people to parkrun to great effect and we want to scale this up. This exciting and game-changing initiative with RCGP is a huge step forward in helping us to encourage GP practices across the country to forge really beneficial partnerships with their local parkruns, and for all staff and patients to realise the wide-ranging health benefits that parkrun participation can bring.”
Dr Andrew Boyd, RCGP clinical champion for physical activity & lifestyle, added: “Inactivity is a leading cause of premature illness and death in the UK. GPs and their teams play a key role in encouraging and empowering their patients to get more active in the best interests of their health. parkrun provides an accessible, non-intimidating local opportunity for patients and staff to increase their activity levels, and have fun doing it, all in the great outdoors – and for free!”
There are currently 535 parkruns across the UK with more events starting every week, many situated close to local GP practices. parkruns are free, 5k events that take place every Saturday morning in public areas of open space. There are also 220 2k junior parkruns for 4-14 year-olds and their families on Sunday mornings.
There is no need to run at parkrun and junior parkrun, people walk the events or join in as volunteers or spectators.
