GPs in Rushcliffe are being encouraged to receive the ‘Active Practice’ accreditation, an award to inspire and celebrate practices that are taking steps to support patients and staff to become more active and lead healthier lifestyles.
Rushcliffe Borough Council has created the Active Practice Toolkit document, in partnership with the Rushcliffe Primary Care Network and Partners Health, which gives practical tips to aid GPs and those working at doctor’s surgeries in the Borough to work towards the endorsement.
To become an ‘Active Practice’ and to receive a certificate recognising this status, surgeries will need to demonstrate that they have taken a number of steps.
These can include appointing a wellbeing team, introducing standing or walking meetings, hosting exercise sessions, creating a standing waiting room for patients, displaying infographics promoting physical activity, signposting patients to local community exercise groups and competitions for the most active member of staff.
The authority’s Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Communities and Climate Change Cllr Abby Brennan said: “We know there are so many health benefits from leading an active lifestyle and GP surgeries in Rushcliffe have a vital role to play in promoting physical activity.
“In the toolkit we have created, there are many easy, practical actions that GPs can put into place towards receiving the accreditation and would encourage further surgeries across the Borough to take part.”
The Belvoir Health Group that covers Cropwell Bishop, Bingham and Cotgrave surgeries have achieved accreditation and Dr Heidi Archer is encouraging more surgeries to take the necessary steps to do so too.
Dr Archer said: “It’s brilliant that five practices across Rushcliffe have already received the accreditation but it would be fantastic to see even more pledge their support to continue to improve staff and patients’ well-being.
“An active lifestyle is incredibly important for both physical and mental health and the toolkit is imperative to give GP surgeries practical ways to improve this.”
To request a copy of the toolkit or for further information, email Lewis Parker, Health Development Officer at Rushcliffe Borough Council [email protected].