• Walking referrals help doctors and patients

     

    Partner Ramblers

    Location East London   

     

    After working with Ramblers to set up a walking group that she could refer patients to, Dr McAdam-Freud improved not only the health of her patients, but also gained two trained walk leaders from her clinic to lead walking sessions.

     
    Lansdowne Medical Mission in East Bermondsey worked with Ramblers to deliver the Get Walking, Keep Walking 12-week walking programme. It was set up for patients and other people in the locality to be referred to, giving them access to a regular walking group. The walks were led by Assistant Practice Manager Sonia McVinnie and Health Care Assistant Perri Willoughby. They were trained and accredited as walk leaders and led the walks, using the plan they were given. The participants were provided with free step counters to monitor their progress on a daily basis, to see if they could reach their designated target of steps.
     
    The group comprised 20 to 40 patients each week, walking for around an hour within their locality in south London. They covered four different routes, incorporating various local attractions.
     
    Dave Nicholls and his wife have walked with the group since it started in July. Dave is a patient at Lansdowne and says that the walks have improved aspects of his health. He suffers from asthma and since he started the walks, sticking to his daily goals, says that: “I have noticed how my health has improved, and I’ve lost weight too”. Dave also enjoys the social aspect of the walks, saying: “The group is full of warm and friendly people. Everybody gets on and encourages each other, and there is a lot of laughter, too.”
     
    The group decided to celebrate their success and achievements by organising coffee and cake at the local coffee shop at the end of fourteen weeks’ walking together. Even though they have now completed the programme the group still wants to continue walking.
     
    Result: By using the Ramblers’ 12-week walking programme, the clinic has improved its range of health services by being able to refer patients to walking to improve health.

     





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