STAFF and GPs from four Swindon practices joined hundreds of runners at Lydiard Park to mark the one-year anniversary of a groundbreaking health initiative.

The parkrun practice initiative has seen doctors and nurses in more than 800 practices prescribe exercise instead of medication to treat ill-health in patients as it can boost their physical and mental wellbeing.

Shaun Butler said that taking part in the weekly run has changed his life for the better: “I’ve had a lot of of mental health problems and this event is a blessing.

“It gets you out of bed, it’s brilliant from a social point of view because it’s a great chance to interact with other people if you are lonely, and anyone can do it because it’s free and open to all.”

More than 10 per cent of all UK GP surgeries have signed up to the parkrun pledge, including Ashington House Surgery in West Swindon, Kingswood Surgery in Park North, Westrop Medical Practice and Merchiston Surgery in Highworth.

Westrop GP and head of the Swindon CCG Sarah Bruen said: “I run regularly but I’d never done a parkrun before. Exercise this offers a lot of health benefits, like reducing blood pressure and even reversing diabetes, so we want to get as many patients and staff involved as possible.

“This regular event is an amazing way to be part of the community and get healthy.”

The practice’s operations manager Terry Walker agreed: “Since this initiative began, I’ve certainly noticed a big difference in how staff look at what to prescribe for patients. It gives them more independence to make a difference in a patient’s life.

“This was my first parkrun and I was looking forward to it and dreading it at the same time because it had been a month since I last got on the treadmill.

“I’m hoping to make this at least a quarterly event and hopefully get twice as many staff and patients taking part in the next one.”

The Lydiard Park event was one of hundreds of parkruns taking place around the country on a sunny Saturday as part of a national GP parkrun pledge day, with more than 1,400 GPs and practice staff taking part.

Launched by the Royal College of General Practitioners, the initiative helps link GP practices with their local 5km parkrun. It is hoped the day will raise awareness of parkruns across the health sector and encourage people to get active.

The Swindon parkrun has been held every Saturday since 2010 and still attracts hundreds of fitness enthusiasts of all ages and abilities from Swindon and further afield.

Representatives from the Swindon Men’s Mental Health Awareness initiative also took part in the run.

Greg Wells, 54, from the town centre, said: “More men should feel comfortable to talk about what’s bothering them instead of saying that they’re fine when they aren’t, don’t suffer in silence, talking can help you realise there’s an issue and how to get support.

“People have rallied to this cause, which is great because it’s a massive issue and chaps don’t aren’t good at talking about how they feel.

“I’ve done 246 parkruns, it helps me to go for a run after a bad day because it clears your head and all you think about is putting one foot in front of the other.”