parkrun UK and the Royal College of General Practitioners are set to launch an initiative that could see thousands of 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. Many practice staff across the country have already reaped the personal benefit of taking part. We know that experiencing parkrun for yourself is a great way to appreciate the benefits and share them with patients.