Ps to start prescribing walking and cycling as part of trial in England to help improve mental and physical wellbeing and tackle health inequalities.
The Department for Transport announced on Monday that £12.7 million had been given to 11 local authorities to fund pilot social prescriptions, as well as projects such as cycling training for adults, walking groups and free bike loans.
GP prescriptions will also include driving people in wheelchairs or mobility scooters, the department said.
But there will be other schemes introduced such as cycling taster days for all abilities and mental health exercise groups, he added.
The government said authorities need to improve infrastructure alongside the trials so that people feel safe undertaking the activities.
Pilot projects will start this year and run until 2025 in Bath and North East Somerset, Bradford, Cornwall, Cumbria, Doncaster, Gateshead, Leeds, Nottingham, Plymouth, Suffolk and Staffordshire.
It comes as part of the government’s facility replacement plan, published in 2020, and aims to assess the impact of these activities on people’s health, such as reduced GP visits and drug dependency.
The Department for Transport said several government departments and agencies, including NHS England, the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, Sport England, the National Academy for Social Prescribing, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Department for Health & Social Care, were working together on the project.
Walking and Cycling Minister Trudy Harrison said the activities had “so many benefits, from improving air quality in our communities to reducing congestion on our busiest streets”.
“It also has a huge positive impact on physical and mental health, which is why we’ve funded these projects which will get people across the country moving and ease the burden on our NHS,” she said.
Chris Boardman, commissioner of National Active Travel, an executive agency set up by the government to improve the standards of cycling and walking infrastructure in the UK, said: “As a nation we need healthier, cheaper and more enjoyable ways to get around every day trips.
He added: “More movement will lead to a healthier nation, a reduced burden on the NHS, less cancer, heart disease and diabetes and huge cost savings.
“This trial aims to build on existing evidence to show how bringing together transport, active travel and health can have a positive impact on communities across England.”
Health Secretary Maria Caulfield said: “Getting active is hugely beneficial for both our mental and physical health, helping to reduce stress and protect against other diseases such as heart disease and obesity.
“The UK is leading the way in implementing social prescribing in our NHS and communities across the country.”