Doctors could prescribe patients with walking and cycling to help mental and physical health

Doctors could soon be telling patients to “take a hike” and “get on your bike” in an effort to improve the health of Renfrewshire residents.The hope is for the new scheme to cut the number of patients who are diagnosed with cancer and heart disease as it will encourage people to take up more exercise.The aim is also to try and lessen the burden for the NHS as well as take some cars off of the road - especially when they are being used for short journeys. Don't miss the latest headlines from around Renfrewshire.

Sign up to our newsletters here. Claire Gallagher, head of operations at Recovery Across Mental Health (RAMH) said: “We are commencing a Movement and Wellbeing Festival in September.

It will be running for a week because we know how important the impact exercise has on mental health.“There is just so much research about how being in the open and socialising with people has a really good effect on mental health.

I am glad there is going to be a more holistic approach as opposed to just prescribing medicine. I think prescribing something like this is excellent, I think it is a great idea.”RAMH, which promotes recovery from mental ill health and empowers people to build independent, fulfilled lives, has its headquarters in Blackstoun Road, Paisley.According to Nature Scot, a brisk 30-minute walk can lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes by 20 to 30 per cent as well bowel and breast cancer by 30 and 20 per cent respectively.Around one in four Scots will suffer from a mental health problem in their life, but by