GPs set to prescribe cycling and walking on the NHS in new trial

As reported by Plymouth Live, Plymouth City Council is one of three areas in the South West to receive £3.7m from Active Travel England to fund new trials that allow doctors and health workers to prescribe walking and cycling to improve patients’ physical and mental health

Active Travel England (ATE) today published the funding allocations for the 11 local authorities – including Bath, Cornwall and Plymouth – that are taking part in the £13.9m active travel social prescribing scheme.

The project, which was launched in August 2022, is helping councils run trials that will evaluate the impact of active travel on an individual’s physical and mental health, such as through reduced demand for healthcare appointments and reliance on medication due to more physical activity.

Bath and North East Somerset Council, which has received £1.6m, is delivering projects that will see patients offered free access to guided walking and cycling activities, cycle training and bike loans.

Cornwall Council has received more than £844,600 to deliver walking and cycling activities that are co-designed with communities.

Meanwhile Plymouth City Council will use its £1.2m share of the funding to help tackle patients’ individual barriers to active travel by working with them to develop personal walking and cycling plans.

The programme will run until autumn 2025 and will help more people to access support such as adult cycle training, led rides, led walks and complementary programmes like bike maintenance courses and workshops.

Councillor Mark Coker, cabinet member for transport, said: “Through the project we will be providing an exciting high quality package of walking and cycling initiatives delivered through community engagement which will allow active travel to be part of people’s everyday lives directly improving the health and well-being of residents in Plymouth.”

The project is being delivered by the council’s Plymotion and Public Health teams and from next week, our Plymotion travel advisors will once more be out and about providing information and incentives to help encourage more trips to be on foot, by bike and by bus.

Councillor Mary Aspinall, cabinet Mmember for health and adult social care added: “Plymouth has a strong background in social prescribing and community-based active travel projects and this project is a great way to bring the two together to improve the health and wellbeing of our residents through active travel.

“While the project is focussed on social prescribing, everyone can sign up to the activities being delivered. It is designed to have something for everyone, whether you’re an experienced cyclist who wants help maintaining your bike or someone who doesn’t usually walk or cycle but want to give it a go and we’d encourage everyone to take part.”

Active travel commissioner Chris Boardman said: “Many studies have shown active travel has massive health benefits. Enabling everyone in England to travel under their own steam will help reduce conditions such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes, whilst at the same time improving mental wellbeing.

“We aim to use these trials to build on the existing evidence to show how bringing transport, active travel and health together can help build a healthier nation in an easy and sustainable way.”

Decarbonisation minister Jesse Norman said: “This funding will help thousands more people across the country to realise the mental and physical health benefits that walking and cycling brings.

“Prescribing walking and cycling will not only improve the health and wellbeing of people across the country but will also reduce pressure on the NHS and help people to choose more sustainable transport choices.”

The government committed to fund social prescribing pilots as part of the Gear Change plan in 2020.

The pilots are taking a pioneering approach that will see active travel and health officials work together to develop a whole systems approach to health improvement and tackling health disparities.

Active Travel England is also today publishing the breakdown of funding for its £32.9m Capability Fund, initially announced in January. This investment will help 78 councils in England design, develop and consult on high-quality active travel schemes that work for residents. The funding will also be used to deliver training and engagement activities that give people the choice to walk, wheel and cycle.