Active Practices
We want to support more GP surgeries across Greater Manchester to join our movement for moving more and sitting less.
The Active Practice Charter is a initiative from The Royal College of GPs (RCGP) and Sport England to inspire and celebrate GP practices that commit to increasing activity and reducing sedentary behaviour in staff and patients.
One in four people saying they would be more active if it was recommended by a GP or nurse and Greater Manchester Moving want to support more GP practices throughout the city region to join our movement and become an Active Practice.
Simple changes can make a big difference in improving the physical and mental wellbeing of patients and staff, at relatively low cost.
Further details please contact
- Imogen Halls
Project Lead (Health) - [email protected]
- 07765 407978
Also from GM Moving
Useful documents
What does becoming an Active Practice involve?
To gain Active Practice status, surgeries will need to show they've taken a number of steps, including:
- Increasing physical activity in patients and staff
- Reducing sedentary behaviour in patients and staff
- Partnering with a local physical activity provider to support the practice to get more people active.
What does an Active Practice look like?
There are already lots of General Practices throughout Greater Manchester who are Active Practice certified or working towards certification. Below are a few examples, from GM, of work being done to support an increase in physical activity (or staff and patients) or reduce sedentary behaviour - the key requirements of the Charter.
Staff
- Walking meetings
- Lunchtime walking
- Standing desks
- Under desk cycle machines
- Staff step challenges
- ‘Walk Talk Walks’
- ‘Walk with a Doc’
- Bike racks and/or locks
- Cycle to work schemes
- Walking to collect patients
- Walking Wednesdays
- Link with local Parkrun
- Signpost to local activities/events/groups
Patients
- Staff training eg PACC training
- Bike racks and/or locks
- ‘Walk Talk Walks’ open to patients and staff
- Standing area in waiting room
- Exercise equipment in waiting room
- Signpost to local activities/events/groups
- Messages re benefits of moving on TV screens
- Encourage use of stairs rather than lifts
- Use personal experience to influence
Working with local activity provider
- Reduced rates at local gym or leisure centre
- Link up with local Parkrun
- Signpost to local activities/events/groups
- Link up with local walking groups
- Link up with local physical activity provider – find yours here
You may wish to consider...Active Hospitals
Active Hospitals, provided by Moving Medicine, aims to change the physical activity culture within hospitals to encourage patients to move more.
Their toolkit can help you to create your own Active Hospital.
Latest News
All News
Harnessing the benefits of physical activity across the NHS in England
Following the NHS England statement on physical activity, Manchester GP Dr Naddia Atif looks at how healthcare professionals can keep moving and the support they can offer their patients.
Active Practice in Ancoats gets patients and staff moving for better wellbeing
GM Moving joined Urban Village Medical Practice in Ancoats for their monthly Walk Talk Walk session to understand the impact the walks have on staff and patients.