A short walk to better Health in South Chadderton

October 15, 2019 Alan Keane

UProjects have been working in partnership with The Chadderton District Team, Oldham Council’s Environmental Services and GP Dr Anita Sharma to develop a weekly, short, free and accessible led walk from the South Chadderton Health Centre

For people who have problems with their health or have had them in the past, it can be hard to stay active, but walking can make all the difference, It's a low impact exercise so it's easy for you to get involved - even if you're not feeling your best. In fact, walking could help you feel great again!

This walk has been specially designed for those who want to start exercising or maybe need to keep active due to any medical conditions; it has also been a great way for walkers to meet new friends from the South Chadderton area and new walkers from other areas of Oldham.

The short walk is around 1.5 miles in total with a rest break at the park and starts every Thursday morning at 10:00 from the Health Centre entrance area.

Linking with health and social care professionals

The Oldham health walk initiative is part of Walking for Health, England’s largest network of health walk schemes, run by the Ramblers for over 12 years and helping all kinds of people to lead a more active lifestyle.

Every week thousands of people are supported to experience the benefits of getting and staying active, improving their mental and physical wellbeing, and reducing social isolation.

Spending just 60 seconds recommending Walking for Health to your patients will encourage them to increase their levels of physical activity, ultimately saving lives and money, and reducing clinic numbers

The new Chadderton walk was developed after consultation with Dr Anita Sharma, a GP at the Health Centre. Dr Sharma is now an ambassador of this scheme and says that this has changed the thinking and life of not only her patients but patients of other practices and her staff.

We are all aware GPs and their practice teams are under pressure like never before, with challenging workloads, ever increasing demands and high levels of stress. It seems the negative press is endless, so SCMC practice is especially proud to be joining and promoting the new walks, this is an excellent example of social prescribing in action. The RCGP Active practice Charter is my vision... To Increase physical activity in staff and patients by teaming with a local physical activity provider, to support my practice in getting people active such as Walking For Health. My local Oldham Walks scheme has quite simply changed my life too and the people I’ve met are truly inspirational

Anita Sharma GPwSI Gynaecology Oldham - Ex clinical director vascular and medicine optimisation Oldham CCG - Educational lead North West - GP member of NICE QS

Walkers Stories

A gentleman who was once a keen walker and volunteer walk leader for the Oldham Lets go for a Walk scheme regularly now walks with the Thursday walkers. Don is recovering from surgery on his leg, initially walking very short distances with a walking aid and needing regular stops he has now just completed his first continual walk without aid, this has been marked as fantastic and unforeseen progress following a very serious medical issue.