Practices are to be offered the chance to gain recognition as “active practices” in a new project aiming to support them in encouraging activity among patients.

The Royal College of GPs is working with Sport England on the project. It includes a toolkit aimed at helping GPs fit conversations about activity into consultations with patients.

Practices will be able to gain certification as active if they can demonstrate they are working to increase physical activity – and reduce sedentary activity – among patients and staff. They are also expected to partner with a local provider of physical activity to help encourage activity.

According to the two organisations, 25% of people say they would become more active if this was recommended by a GP or a nurse.

Dr Andrew Boyd, clinical champion for physical activity and lifestyle at the college, said: “Busy GPs can’t be expected to do everything when it comes to getting the nation more active, but we can play a vital role in starting the conversation with patients.

“By making small changes in our own workplace – using standing desks, encouraging active transport for staff, and partnering with local physical activity providers, for example – we can demonstrate to patients that being more active is good for everyone’s physical and mental health.”

College chair Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard added: “Having the time to advise patients on lifestyle in the current ten-minute consultation can be a huge challenge, especially when there are often so many other things we need to discuss and when this probably wasn’t the reason the patient has made the appointment – so taking a practice-wide approach to encouraging healthier lifestyles, for all of us, is a great idea.

“I’m delighted to see this project come to fruition and hope it helps practices up and down the country, including my own, further promote the truly life-changing health and wellbeing benefits of physical activity and keeping an active lifestyle.”