A Scots doctor who rose to fame on the Great British Bake Off has taken on a new NHS role in a bid to promote healthy lifestyles over long-term prescription drugs.
GP James Morton has become an expert baker, blogger and author since appearing on the TV show has now taken on a new health service challenge.
He wants to help tackle the problem of over-prescribing in the NHS by cutting the use of unnecessary medicines and promoting exercise and outdoor activities.
Dr Morton has been elected vice-chair of the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network Council [SIGN], which issues advice on NHS treatments.
He is keen to help address over-prescribing – an issue that is said to cost the NHS £300million in wasted medicine in the UK each year.
The GP was a runner-up in the third series of the Great British Bake Off in 2012 and will return to the nation’s television screens later this month as part of the Great British Bake Off Hogmanay special.
Dr Morton practices as a family doctor in Glasgow, where he lives with his wife and two young children.
SIGN develops guidelines based on the most recent medical research to help NHS professionals make decisions about patients’ care.
James Morton became a GP following his success on The Great British Bake Off in 2012
Dr Morton uses a caro bike to do his GP rounds
Dr Morton was a runner-up in the third series of the Great British Bake Off in 2012 and will return to the nation’s television screens later this month as part of a Hogmanay special
Dr Morton wants to make sure that clinical guidelines focus on illness prevention and lifestyle improvements ahead of medicines that do not help health of the patient in the long term.
The doctor is advising people who take medications regularly to consider having a review with their GP at their next visit to see if the treatments are still needed.
He said: ‘There are so many things we can all do to help our own health and to cut down on over-reliance that might lead to waste in the NHS.
‘I would ask people, particularly those who have been on medicines for a long time, to have a look at what they are taking and review it with their GP to ensure they’re not taking them unnecessarily.
‘I want to emphasise that this is not about saving money, but about improving health and encouraging people to have more involvement in their own health.’
Dr Morton added: ‘Sustainability is an issue for all of us as the vast majority of our carbon footprint is preventable.
‘For GPs like myself, we need to look at prescribing.
‘I want us to try to engage with patients to motivate them to improve their health and prevent illness in future where possible through social prescribing.
‘That means sometimes rather than giving someone medicines, working in a garden or taking part in an exercise class can have greater benefits.’
Social prescribing is being increasingly used in the NHS and sees patients with conditions such as depression, anxiety or chronic fatigue referred by their GP to healthy community initiatives including gardening, cycling or jogging as well as birdwatching or nature walks.
Safia Qureshi, director of evidence and digital at Healthcare Improvement Scotland, which oversees SIGN, said: ‘We are delighted that James is supporting us with our focus on sustainability.
‘Our guidelines already have a keen focus on sustainability.
‘We want our guidelines and advice to provide the best evidence that will empower people to be fully involved in decisions about their health and wellbeing.’
