We Are An Active GP Practice

We Are An Active GP Practice

Active GP practices are medical practices that promote physical activity and reduce sedentary behavior among patients and staff through the Active Practice Charter as part of an initiative led by the Royal College of GPs (RCGP) and Sport England. Our practice aims to make movement a core part of healthcare, by demonstrating that “movement is medicine” and supporting your overall physical and mental wellbeing.

What Does This Mean?

To become an Active Practice, we signed up to the Active Practice Charter where we are encouraged to meet five key criteria:

1. Reduce sedentary behavior in staff – for example, by encouraging standing meetings or using sit-stand desks.
2. Reduce sedentary behavior in patients – such as referraing patients to our Health & Wellbeing Coach. 
3. Increase physical activity in staff – promoting walking meetings, exercise breaks, or workplace challenges.
4. Increase physical activity in patients – through social prescribing, signposting to local exercise classes, or partnering with local activity providers.
5. Community engagement – linking with initiatives like local parkruns or patient-led walking groups to foster social interaction and wellbeing. 

Benefits of Being An Active Practices

Active GP practices have been shown to improve staff morale, patient engagement, and overall health outcomes. Regular physical activity can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke by up to 35% and decrease the risk of early death by up to 30% sportengland.org. Additionally, patients are more likely to be active if recommended by a GP or nurse, making these practices effective for preventive health