Green Px

This initiative involves General Practitioners and practice nurses, as well as iwi provider nurses, giving a “Green Prescription” to patients whose health could benefit from increased physical activity. The patient is then eligible for support and advice from Sport Northland for up to four months. Patients that benefit most are those with conditions such as heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and obesity.

The most commonly recommended activity is walking. Other options are available including trial swim and gym visits. Green Prescription is based on research that shows that written physical activity advice from a health professional is more likely to be acted upon.

In a recent New Zealand report on the top 20 causes of death by risk factor – insufficient physical activity was ranked 7 th. Insufficient levels of physical activity is associated with CHD, stroke, cancer, diabetes and obesity. Increased physical activity has a range of benefits including reducing falls in elderly and osteoporosis, improving mental wellbeing and reducing the incidence of depressive illness. Green Prescription, although not the entire answer, provides a tangible effective intervention for primary health care.

For more information on GRx phone 0800ACTIVE or go to: