Opinion Dissecting Health
In her latest opinion piece in the British Medical Journal Dr Scarlett McNally discuss how “Enabling active travel can improve the UK’s health“
BMJ 2024; 384 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.q522 (Published 06 March 2024)Cite this as: BMJ 2024;384:q522
Dr McNally described that the NHS is responsible for 5% of the UK’s total transport emissions—and 1.3 million staff commuting makes up the bulk of that. She described how a modal shift from driving to active travel needs focus, practical support, and some funding. Using Salisbury Hospital as an example she described how they had ve five electric cycles that staff can try out free for two weeks and this initiative has led to many staff buying their own ebikes. This hugely successful scheme cost only around £15 000 and should be rolled out in every hospital. People using an electric cycle get just as fit as those using a standard bike, because they ride further and convert more journeys from car driving.”
