GPs to start prescribing walking and cycling to improve health

Walking and cycling can now be prescribed by numerous GPs around England as part of a government initiative to improve mental and physical health. 11 pilot areas including parts of three cities in Yorkshire have been selected for a trial of the programme which will be delivered from 2022 to 2025. A total of £12.7 million is to be injected into organising walking groups as well as free bike loans and training.

This programme fits into a wider movement of ‘social prescribing’ whereby non-medical activities are recommended in an effort to reduce reliance on medication. In 2020 the government launched trials costing £5.77 million to investigate how connecting people with nature can be used to improve mental health and wellbeing and more recently GPs in Australia have been encouraged to prescribe 5km parkruns to patients.

Speaking about the new initiative, National Active Travel Commissioner Chris Boardman said: “As a nation we need healthier, cheaper and more pleasant ways to get around for everyday trips. Active Travel England’s mission is to ensure millions of people nationwide can do just that – so it’s easier to leave the car at home and to enjoy the benefits that come with it”. Trudy Harrison, the walking and cycling minister, said that the scheme would “ease the burden on our NHS” as well as “improving air quality and reducing congestion”.