Welcome to my Substack, thanks for taking a look! I plan to use this space to share some of my thoughts- mostly on health and everyday activity, perhaps with a few detours! As a starting point I made a word cloud.
I am a passionate advocate for the benefits of physical activity- few patients get out of my room or off the phone without a conversation about this. Or indeed my colleagues! I’m not the only practicing doctor who feels this way, there are loads of us! Perhaps because we see it day in day out: people can have their lives transformed when they discover a way to be more active. The NHS can help do this too
Some of Sheffield’s marvellous e-bike GPs, hills are no problem with a pedelec!
Over the past 4 years of my career I have had the good fortune to be employed to promote physical activity and active travel, whilst also working 3 days a week as an NHS GP in North Sheffield. I am a partner at Wincobank Medical Centre
From March 2023-May 2024 I have worked as Lead Health Advocate within the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority team, with Active Travel Commisioner Ed Clancy
Photo courtesy of Modeshift stars
Before this, I’ve been the ‘Move More GP’ for Sheffield for 3 years
Concord parkrun, Make the Move Day 2022 celebrating the awesome volunteers
The evidence is unequivocal; prolonging life and increasing healthy life expectancy, preventing cancer, cardiovascular disease & neurodegenerative disease, diabetes, preventing and treating depression & anxiety, the list goes on and on. At any stage of life, from any community we all have a lot to gain from living an active lifestyle.
With the amazing Sheffield Cycling for All team in Hillsborough Park 2022
Prescribing a tablet for any one of these conditions will never have the same effect and its hard to do right . It won’t help you cope with a bereavement, job loss, new school or any other stressful life event- but getting out and going for a walk will.
Too many people live a sedentary life, they can’t see themselves as exercisers. Lifestyle medicine? Active Travel? Social Prescribing? What do these phrases mean & how can we persuade people this is for them? We need to go beyond saying ‘do some exercise’ and have a more sophisticated conversation Exercise advocates need to articulate this is not only important but can and should be fun!
Hillsbrough parkrun, celebrating a milestone with friends February 2024
I’m using skills I’ve learnt throughout my medical career: being a coal-face GP in practice since 2002, as well as an educator for Uni of Sheffield Medical School and post-grad GP Trainer & workshop facilitator for Yorks & Humber Deanery . I regularly speak at local events, I am an advocate & speaker for Ramblers UK, and recently lead a walkshop on Clean Air & Health at Living Streets Walking Summit also health benefits of tree equity for The Woodland Trust
Combining energy, enthusiasm & passion for connecting people through activity I am now available for freelance work. Workshops/walkshops/advocacy/consultancy, Get in touch.
Thanks for reading!