I have been writing recently about the challenges facing the NHS. In many ways resolving these problems is one of the biggest challenges facing the Government. Preserving our NHS and allowing it to resume its place as the envy of the world is very important to Labour supporters.
We are all aware that for the NHS to survive it must not be just about curing people but making them healthy in the first place.Thus I was very pleased to see that the Parkrun, a British initiative which began over twenty years ago has been a phenomenal success and is now taking place all over the world. Regrettably the ones in Russia were suspended after the invasion of Ukraine, but they have reached as far as Australia.
Doing the Parkrun
Full disclosure. I do it. I noticed recently to my amazement that I was first on the record sheet. Then I read the small print and discovered that it was in the over eighties category. Still, I thought, I don’t have to tell people that. Someone asked about “My personal best”. I replied, “Getting round”. Then he asked about my time. I said “I use a calendar”.
It is a very welcoming event involving all sorts of people and tolerating those who cannot run very fast like me. Apart from the exercise there is a real spirit of togetherness and also a chance for a bacon sandwich afterwards. The gains in mental wellbeing are offset by the damage done by the bacon sandwich!
Story of the Parkrun
The beauty of the Parkrun is that it is a very successful public health initiative which started as a purely voluntary event. It now has 880 all around the country, and in 23 countries abroad. It is estimated that at least 3.9 million people have done at least one. A recent study by Steve Hake from Sheffield Hallam University estimates that the health benefits, both physical and mental, could be as much as £668 million a year. And the good thing is that it is run by volunteers.
Parkruns have developed from their beginnings in Bushy Park Richmond and now have an annual grant of £I million from Sport England. It also has a partnership with the Royal College of GPs. But it is important to stress that it started off as a few friends enjoying themselves but has developed into a major public health initiative. It does have a drawback, which many other activities do. Participation is lower in deprived areas where people need it most. Participation is high in university towns. As one supportive GP put it, it “is still quite middle-class”. Many young people turning up with fancy T shirts boasting of their achievements in various events tend to put the less fit and perhaps embarrassed off. It is understandable that people like to show off their T-shirts (I have a few tucked away in a drawer) but the events need to attract those who really need it as well.
Advertising the Parkrun for those who need it
I am therefore pleased to see many GPs now advertising it in their surgeries and prescribing it to patients as part of “social prescribing”, a description of when a GP prescribes exercise or taking part in an event as a useful treatment for a condition either mental or physical. Easington, the area where I live was once defined by Professor Townsend as one of the unhealthiest places in England, but now has several flourishing Parkruns.
I appreciate that running is not everyone’s cup of tea, and many cannot do it because of injury or physical conditions. There are many walking groups, and there have always been teams for all sorts of sports. But these activities need the facilities to function. Despite local enthusiasm it has been difficult to establish a Parkrun in Hong Kong for example simply because of a lack of suitable open space, although locals are still trying to find a suitable course. Many activities, particularly swimming, need leisure centres to operate.
NHS needs a strong community
All this points in one direction. A successful health policy, and that means a good NHS, needs strong community backup. It cannot be done by the professionals alone. A strong community/voluntary sector also needs the facilities to function. This means we should see spending on leisure, be it parks or leisure centres, by local authorities is not a desirable add-on, but as an essential part of a policy to promote good health and reduce the pressures on the NHS.
Promoting healthy activities
We all like following competitive sport, and many sports are by their nature competitive, but a successful health policy must promote activities which are inclusive and fun. Health Authorities should not see their job as simply administering efficient services, although that is important, but also promoting inclusive healthy activities in the community which involve everyone, and are not only fun, but improve our health too.
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