This year we asked all the practices working in our buildings to put forward schemes which made a difference to health for their patients for one of our Healthy Communities Grants.
The GPs at our Sturminster Newton Medical Centre in Devon nominated their local walking group – Walking for Health. Walking for Health provides people in North Dorset with short group walks as a friendly and sociable way to get exercise and they will also be holding a one-day Ideal Health Exhibition in September which will inform local people on how to keep themselves healthy and independent.
The Sturminster Newton Medical Centre said: “National evidence shows that regular group walking can positively impact on general health and wellbeing as well as helping those with long-term health conditions to live well. Our own data shows that we have engaged over 120 people, many of whom were previously inactive and are now regularly walking.”
Ian Gall, Chairman of the PPG said: “Our first Ideal Health Exhibition in 2016 brought over 600 local people into contact with 40 services and community groups providing support for health and wellbeing. We want to make it easier for people to know where they can get good advice, information and support for health-related issues and we also want to help those providing this to promote themselves more widely to our local communities.”