{"id":466,"date":"2025-02-25T15:25:55","date_gmt":"2025-02-25T16:25:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/?p=466"},"modified":"2025-03-19T21:34:10","modified_gmt":"2025-03-19T21:34:10","slug":"one-prescription-has-helped-hundreds-of-my-patients-and-me","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/2025\/02\/25\/one-prescription-has-helped-hundreds-of-my-patients-and-me\/","title":{"rendered":"One prescription has helped hundreds of my patients \u2013 and me"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n\t\t\"Dr\t<\/div>
Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi (M) gives a thumbs up before a run (Picture: Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Depressed<\/a>. Isolated. Disconnected.<\/p>\n

These were the main things my patient, Seamus*, was feeling when he came to me for help in February last year. <\/p>\n

As a GP I see my fair share of patients<\/a> and treat all manner of physical and mental ailments.<\/p>\n

Mostly though, I listen. That\u2019s what helps me get to the root cause of a problem. <\/p>\n

That\u2019s why, when Seamus explained to me that he and his wife had recently separated<\/a> \u2013 leaving him alone and living miles away from his kids \u2013 I knew it was unlikely any medication would help in the long run. But I knew something that could.<\/p>\n

\u2018Have you tried parkrun<\/a>?\u2019 I suggested with a smile. And a confused Seamus shook his head.<\/p>\n

Parkrun first launched in 2004 but has since grown to have a huge following across the UK.<\/p>\n

Every Saturday at 9am, in public open spaces across the country, a group of volunteers put on a free 5K walk, jog or run. <\/p>\n

And in my personal opinion, these runs are the perfect prescription for patients \u2013 even I\u2019ve benefitted.<\/p>\n

Now, a poll of 2,000 people has found that 65% agree with me, and 51% believe prescribed parkrun could reduce pressures on the NHS. <\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Dr\t<\/div>
My legs soon felt heavier, my breathing became laboured and I started to slow down (Picture: parkrun Leamington)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

My first run in (if you\u2019ll pardon the pun) with the organisation came in 2016. I was 25-years-old, overweight, sedentary, had little work-life balance and was eventually diagnosed with fatty liver disease<\/a>.<\/p>\n

As there is no specific medication to treat this condition (only pills to manage the problems that occur as a result), my only choice was to make healthy lifestyle changes. That\u2019s when a colleague suggested parkrun to me.<\/p>\n

Attending my first event at Leamington Spa one Saturday in October 2018 was nerve wracking. I hadn\u2019t run any distance for seven or eight years, and I\u2019d never completed a 5K before, so I was braced for a serious challenge. <\/p>\n

To my surprise, the first 400m felt amazing. The joy of running<\/a>, jogging and walking alongside others was incredible and I felt myself enjoying it. But then the exhaustion began to set in. <\/p>\n

My legs soon felt heavier, my breathing became laboured and I started to slow down \u2013 I even recall being passed by those twice my age and even some pushing buggies.<\/p>\n

Had it not been for my wife, who was by my side the whole way, I would have called it quits. But I\u2019m thankful I didn\u2019t, because as I reached the end, there were swarms of people cheering me on as I plodded through the finish<\/a> funnel.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Dr\t<\/div>
Dr Hussain (M) with his parkrun friends (Picture: Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It really was such a buzz to have so many people, so many strangers, supporting you. And it was that moment, that community feel, which made me want to come back and commit to a healthier lifestyle.<\/p>\n

Soon I\u2019d committed to an event each week, which then encouraged me to start making small changes in other areas of my life. I began eating better<\/a>, adjusting my work day to move more regularly and slowly it transformed my health. <\/p>\n

I felt healthier and more confident and like a whole new person. Now all I wanted to do was tell more people about it.<\/p>\n

So when, in 2018, parkrun launched its \u2018Practice Initiative\u2019 \u2013 which aimed to foster engagement among both staff and patients of GP surgeries \u2013 I was keen to get involved.<\/p>\n

I started by leaving the parkrun magazine in the waiting area of my surgery, then I encouraged other members of my practice to \u2018take over\u2019 one of the Saturday sessions \u2013 meaning everyone from myself to the receptionists filled the volunteer roles.<\/p>\n

By doing this at my own surgery I witnessed the benefits for both our patients and community first-hand. My patients had improved menopausal <\/a>symptoms, diabetic control<\/a> and those that started attending parkrun with us seemed to be coping better when it came to mental health in general.<\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\t\tparkrun turns 20!\t\t\t<\/h2>\n
\n

This year Metro has partnered with the iconic charity parkrun to bring you a thriving new content series.<\/p>\n

In a coming together of two game-changing powerhouses, Metro has been chosen as the first official media partner for parkrun as it celebrates its 20th birthday in 2024.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t{“@context”:”https:\/\/schema.org”,”@type”:”VideoObject”,”name”:”Metro.co.uk”,”duration”:”T1M22S”,”thumbnailUrl”:”https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2024\/05\/20\/10\/85092863-0-image-m-57_1716196504226.jpg”,”uploadDate”:”2024-01-22T11:54:42+0000″,”description”:”Did you know you can wear what you want at parkrun? Even your astronaut fancy dress.”,”contentUrl”:”https:\/\/videos.metro.co.uk\/video\/met\/2024\/01\/22\/1315165392345055714\/480x270_MP4_1315165392345055714.mp4″,”height”:270,”width”:480}<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tbrowser that
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsupports HTML5
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tvideo<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t<\/video>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n

Up Next<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPrevious Page<\/title>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__page\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__page\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__page\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__page\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__arrow metro-related-video-carousel__arrow--right disabled\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<title>Next Page<\/title>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-videos-placeholder\">\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder\">\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder\">\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder\">\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder\">\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder\">\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder\">\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder\">\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\t\t\twindow.addEventListener(‘metroVideo:relatedVideosCarouselLoaded’, function(data) {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tif (typeof(data.detail) === ‘undefined’ || typeof(data.detail.carousel) === ‘undefined’ || typeof(data.detail.carousel.el_) === ‘undefined’) {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\treturn;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t}<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tvar player = data.detail.carousel.el_;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tvar container = player.closest(‘.metro-video-player’);<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tvar placeholder = container.querySelector(‘.metro-video-player__up-next-placeholder’);<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tcontainer.removeChild(placeholder);<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tcontainer.classList.add(‘metro-video-player–related-videos-loaded’);<br \/>\n\t\t\t});<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>It’s not just for the runners, though – it’s for everyone.<\/p>\n<p>Come with us as we embark on a series of boundary-pushing wellbeing content designed to elevate and champion, but also to support mental health and societal cohesion. Whether you run, walk, jog or strut…<\/p>\n<p>Read the stories of those who have found their calling, their community or had their lives changed through the simple act of lacing up their trainers (not that you have to do parkrun in trainers…as we’ll show you later on).<\/p>\n<p>Get ready to be empowered, inspired, and energised!<\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.parkrun.com?utm_medium=website&utm_source=referral&utm_campaign=metro_partraMay2024\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Register for parkrun here<\/a>. The best part is that it’s free and you only need to register once. <\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>And now, I\u2019m the Royal College of GPs physical activity lead, which sees me support other surgeries to become parkrun practices.<\/p>\n<p>Personally, I\u2019d love all GP surgery\u2019s to get involved and I can\u2019t help but wonder how many lives could be helped by prescribing parkrun as a <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2023\/10\/08\/running-just-as-effective-for-mental-health-as-antidepressants-19624373\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2023\/10\/08\/running-just-as-effective-for-mental-health-as-antidepressants-19624373\/\">course of treatment<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>We already know that physical inactivity contributes to as many deaths as smoking in the UK, yet we are 20% less active than in the 1960s and around 26% of men and 27% of women are classed as sedentary.<\/p>\n<p>Physical activity has been shown to play a significant role in the prevention and management of over 20 chronic illnesses, including: type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, depression and certain cancers \u2013 all of which are on the rise. <\/p>\n<p>As a GP I often see patients who have more than one health problem and, in many cases physical activity can help tackle more than one issue. So why wouldn\u2019t I prescribe it?<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s also zero cost and has no <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2023\/04\/15\/brain-tumour-medication-side-effects-saw-me-spend-50000-and-then-forget-18591610\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2023\/04\/15\/brain-tumour-medication-side-effects-saw-me-spend-50000-and-then-forget-18591610\/\">side effects<\/a>, unlike medications, so to me, it\u2019s a no brainer really.<\/p>\n<p>We regularly prescribe parkrun at our surgery and have done so to hundreds of patients, including Seamus. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"583\" height=\"515\" src=\"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/SEI_196703735-f490-e1710929168213.jpg\" class=\"article-image wp-image-20495953\" alt=\"Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi: Parkrun piece\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t<\/div><figcaption>I\u2019m the Royal College of GPs physical activity lead (Picture: Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>While not all patients take this prescription seriously \u2013 we, of course, continue to work with those people on barriers they face to physical activity and treat them in other ways \u2013 those that do have never once given negative feedback. <\/p>\n<p>Even in Seamus\u2019s case, though he was, understandably, perplexed at first, I knew it could be a way to help him connect with the community and that the physical activity itself could help his mood.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, we agreed that if he did not find parkrun helpful, he could come back to me and we could revisit the medication discussion. But he never did. <\/p>\n<p>Instead, we regularly bump into each other at <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2022\/03\/24\/man-organises-barkrun-after-parkrun-bans-waist-harnesses-for-dogs-16335354\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2022\/03\/24\/man-organises-barkrun-after-parkrun-bans-waist-harnesses-for-dogs-16335354\/\">parkrun events<\/a> \u2013 where we have a catch up. <\/p>\n<p>And he has since told me that connecting with others in the community has made a real difference to improving his mental health. I second that.<\/p>\n<p>I always feel welcome, well supported and have met incredible people from all walks of life and volunteering is equally rewarding.<\/p>\n<p>Perhaps one of the most rewarding aspects of my work though is seeing patients like Seamus at parkrun and witnessing the joy and the benefits they get from it and the friendships they have formed.<\/p>\n<p>As a nation we need to get more active and with 1,247 events around the UK, there\u2019s plenty of opportunities to get involved. It doesn\u2019t matter if you\u2019re a patient or a practitioner, a runner or not, you will be welcome at parkrun. <\/p>\n<p>I believe in the benefits, and that anyone can do it. So I guess I\u2019ll see you at the starting line soon?<\/p>\n<p><em>A version of this piece was originally published in June 2024<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Do you have a story you\u2019d like to share? Get in touch by emailing <a href=\"mailto:ross.mccarthy@metro.co.uk\" data-type=\"mailto\" data-id=\"mailto:ross.mccarthy@metro.co.uk\">Ross.Mccafferty@metro.co.uk<\/a><a href=\"mailto:Ross.Mccafferty@metro.co.uk\" data-type=\"mailto\" data-id=\"mailto:Ross.Mccafferty@metro.co.uk\">.<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Share your views in the comments below.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi (M) gives a thumbs up before a run (Picture: Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi) Depressed. Isolated. Disconnected. These were the main things my patient, Seamus*, was feeling when he came to me for help in February last year.  As a GP I see my fair share of patients and treat all manner of physical […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":468,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[9],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/466"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=466"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/466\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":473,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/466\/revisions\/473"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/468"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=466"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=466"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=466"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}