NICE has issued new guidance on how to promote walking and cycling to tackles our nations health problems due to inactivity.
As we all know the ‘inactivity epidemic’ has massive health consequences. Around 2/3rd of the population do not get the recommended 2.5hr of moderate intensity exercise a week.
This extensive document talks about the idea of ‘personal travel plans’ that provide people on alternatives to a car for the trips they make. Also ‘walking buses’, the benefits of pedometers and ‘Bikeability’ sessions that give skills and confidence in cycling in modern road conditions.
It talks about encouraging active travel in the work place with, for example bike racks and ‘cycle to work schemes’; and stresses the importance of changing the urban environment so that walking and cycling is more appealing and safe.
The guideline refers to various other resources including the NICE guidance PH31 2010 - Preventing Unintentional Injuries amongst Children and Young People Aged under 15: Road Design and Modification; as well as the Let's Get Moving DOH commissioning guide
The release of this guideline is well timed with the recent repeated anger about fuel prices and cost of car use. Of course, besides health benefits, the environmental benefits are massive.
Apparently people are more likely to become active if advised by a doctor or nurse which encourages us healthcare professionals to keep badgering our patients to get fit even though sometime it feels like a losing battle!
This made me reconsider the idea of active travel in general practice in particular the idea of cycling to work and visits. I was able to do this in the summer but there were several barriers. These were most notably the weather with the risk of turning up at a patient’s home a bedraggled drowned rat; the feeling that you are running the gauntlet and risking your life on the city roads; and the need to carry your doctors bag. I used a ruck sac camera bag which worked well. Does anyone have any opinion or experiences on this?
Additionally, would you be willing to write to your local MP highlighting the importance of green space and means for active travel in our urban environments?
I'm slightly disappointed that GPs cycling on visits isn't seen as anything
other than the norm really in the 21st century. Sir Wiggo is a special case and
unlikely to inspire anyone other than the superfit or Jam fans but if politicians
like Andrew Mitchell & Boris Johnson can cycle as part of their normal life
without it apparently being worthy of comment why would GPs think they are
different? There is nothing wrong with being wet or sweaty; it's the sacrificing
of your personal and the planet's future health to some aberrant anti-perspirant
advert derived ideal that needs to be denormalised. Perhaps cycling could count
towards appraisal: triple points, for learning, passing on to colleagues AND to
patients by example. Could also count towards revalidation. Writing to one's MP
would I think be be completely ineffectual. How about GP commissioners engaging
town & country planners via the Health & Wellbeing Board?
Apologies for not making my curmudgeonly contribution earlier. Happy New
Year everyone
John
PS needless to say agree with earlier comments from Peter & Eddie about liklihood of getting wet actually low even in this appalling December, and what need to carry in doctor's bag. We have 2 cyclists in busy
practice. City roads probably safer than country lanes. Look drivers in the eye
and look like you are out of control and they will stay out of your
way