RCGP response to Health Committee report on physical activity for healthy ageing

Professor Victoria Tzortziou-Brown, President of the Royal College of General Practitioners, said:

“GPs see the difference that staying active can make to our older patients’ health, independence and wellbeing – it can reduce frailty, falls and loss of mobility, as well as helping people stay socially connected. Physical activity is one of the most effective ways to promote healthy ageing, so it is encouraging to see the Committee making such a strong case for its importance.  

“GPs and our teams already have a key role in having trusted conversations with our patients about lifestyle and how it can impact on their health. Many of us work with social prescribers, or link workers, in our practices who can recommend activities or schemes in the community to support patients to keep active. Clinical pharmacists also play an important role in helping patients manage multiple long-term conditions and reviewing medications to ensure treatment remains appropriate and necessary.  

“However, delivering this kind of proactive, preventative care well takes time – far more than the standard 10-minute consultation many GPs have with their patients – and benefits from continuity of care. Whilst most GPs will always try to offer their older patients the time they need, this is increasingly challenging against a backdrop of significant workload and workforce pressures.

“The College strongly agrees with the Committee that prevention is better than cure and has supported the Government’s aspirations to both promote prevention and shift more care out of hospitals and into the community, but prevention requires time, workforce capacity and sustained investment if it is to be delivered effectively.”

Further information

RCGP press office: 0203 188 7659
press@rcgp.org.uk

Notes to editors

The Royal College of General Practitioners is a network of more than 54,000 family doctors working to improve care for patients. We work to encourage and maintain the highest standards of general medical practice and act as the voice of GPs on education, training, research and clinical standards.