Active Connections Supports GP Surgeries to Prescribe Movement as Medicine

The Active Connections programme led by the Herts Sport & Physical Activity Partnership (HSP) and funded by Herts County Council Public Health team is helping GP surgeries across Hertfordshire integrate physical activity into primary care, with promising results for both patients and staff. 

Physical activity is often not prioritised in primary care, despite its proven benefits for preventing and managing long-term health conditions. Change is happening with this in Herts, thanks to HSP’s adoption of the Royal College of General Practitioners’ (RCGP) Active Practice Charter, a national tool designed to encourage practices to promote physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour of staff and patients. 

Since the launch of the Active Connections programme in January 2024, 40 Hertfordshire GP practices have achieved “Active Practice” status, up from just one when the programme started. Now, every district in the county has at least one practice committed to the charter, making movement a vital part of patient care and staff wellbeing. 

Building Connections to Community 

To support practices in making the shift, HSP attend Primary Care Network (PCN) Protected Learning Time sessions to run workshops and help staff make pledges to encourage more movement. We have also helped develop links between surgeries and local activity providers, ensuring that advice to “move more” comes with opportunities to do so. 

The approach has helped primary care teams with their adoption of social prescribing, with many personalised care staff now referring patients to walking groups, exercise referral schemes, or even adding elements of physical activity into existing patient wellbeing groups. 

“Integrating movement as medicine transforms lives,” said Claire Winzar, Health & Wellbeing Coach at Alpha PCN. “By inviting our patients into existing groups, we promote activity beyond verbal signposting. We’re fostering a sense of belonging in our communities.” 

Shifting the Focus to Prevention 

Feedback from primary care teams shows the initiative is already having a broader impact. “Employing more non-clinical roles, like social prescribers or wellbeing coaches, has helped shift priorities to health prevention,” said Anna Skiba, Project Coordinator at Hatfield PCN. “Working with HSP gave us the resources and support to turn ideas into action.” 

Utilising resources collated by HSP, practices can more effectively promote awareness of physical activity. HSP provide the tools to integrate physical activity in healthcare, including development of posters, GP digital screens, and providing training to boost confidence in discussing physical activity with patients, helping to make it a normal part of routine care. 

Looking Ahead 

As momentum builds, HSP is keen to collaborate with more PCNs and GP surgeries to support them in achieving Active Practice status and embedding physical activity into clinical pathways. With a significant number of practices in Hertfordshire achieving Active Practice statues, we are now conducting six-month check-ins to help them stay on course with their goals and ensure they are aware of all available opportunities. The partnership is also exploring ways to extend this approach into secondary care, using tools such as Moving Medicine’s Active Hospitals resources. 

Feedback from those we’ve supported through this work highlights the enthusiasm that has been developed within primary care: “We are thrilled to have all five of our PCN practices accredited with the Active Practice Charter,” said Matt Charles, Manager at Stevenage South PCN. “Our patients and staff have truly embraced the new ideas, and we’re excited about what’s next.” We are committed to providing ongoing support to the health system, helping show that movement truly is the best medicine. 

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Primary care settings across Hertfordshire are embedding physical activity in diverse ways through adoption of the Active Practice Charter. We have gathered a selection of case studies to showcase successful approaches primary care teams are using to integrate physical activity: 

• Hatfield PCN - achieve Active Practice Status and receive High Sheriff award for their efforts to champion activity in primary care 

• Broxbourne Alliance & Ware Rurals PCNs – upskill staff to deliver strength & balance activities for patients 

• Alpha PCN – Embed physical activity into healthcare through staff initiatives, patient programmes, and strong community partnerships 

• Lea Wharf Medical Centre – the surgery manager of Herts first Active Practice continues to inspire staff to be more active 

• Welwyn Garden City PCN – invite HSP to protected learning time to discuss benefits of physical activity for staff wellbeing 

• Stevenage South & Stevenage North PCNs - show commitment to embedding physical activity, completing the Active Practice Charter 

• Active Connections Conference 2024 – 120 healthcare professionals (including representation from over half of the county’s PCNs)  learn about the importance of physical activity.  

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To contact HSP about Active Connections or for support embedding physical activity into health settings, please email hsphealth@herts.ac.uk