By Ewen McRae
In an Australian first, a Caroline Springs medical centre is running a trial partnership with a popular fun run as a way of promoting a healthy lifestyle to their patients.
Modern Medical is working with the Park Run at Brimbank Park on July 27, with the aim of a permanent partnership between the clinic and the weekly fun run.
Medical director Dr Jenny Maxwell said it was another way of treating their patients, and promoting a healthy lifestyle.
“We wanted to incorporate social prescribing into our day to day work as GPs, and the way we want to do that is through Park Run,” Dr Maxwell said.
“It’s a free event, every weekend, 5km, and there are so many across Melbourne that there is often one nearby to tie in with.
“There is no formal partnership yet, but the idea is that our staff will go along on the day to volunteer, and we’re spreading the word with our patients to come along and hopefully make it a regular thing.
“Social prescribing is about not going to the doctor and getting a pill for your blood pressure or something like that, but about lifestyle modifications.
“So instead of telling people to go to the gym, why not come down for a walk or run once a week.
“We’re hoping that the informal nature, and the ease of doing it at your own pace in a community of like-minded people will see a lot of people take it up.
“The response so far from patients has been great, so hopefully we see lots of people there on the day.”
The Brimbank Park Run is held in Brimbank Park at 8am on Saturday mornings.
