A FAMILY doctor is dieting as an example to his patients - as the Government considers moves to penalise patients who fail to take responsibility for their health.

Under plans to be debated at the Labour Party Conference in the autumn, overweight people would have to sign a contract promising to lose weight in return for receiving treatment from their doctor. And heavy smokers would be expected to pledge to give up cigarettes.

Meanwhile, GP Dr Martin Strong has lost more than two stone in two months.

Dr Strong, 39, who is a partner at the Priory Road surgery in Park South, weighed in at 16 and a half stone before he started his fitness regime.

And now he is a svelte 14 stone, improving his overall health prospects and setting an example to his patients.

He explained: "I spent a lot of time during surgery advising people to think about changes they could make to their lifestyle, but at the same time I was gradually becoming overweight.

"I think it is a problem associated with general practice. Like other GPs, I tend to work quite long hours and it is a very sedentary job.

"It became difficult to find the time to do any form of exercise. And very often I would stay here for lunch and grab a packet of crisps and a pork pie from the garage around the corner. I have to say that I knew that I was overweight and I was not comfortable with my weight. It also detracted a little from my credibility."

Without Dr Strong's knowledge, a fellow GP at the surgery, Dr Mari Ritson, sent a sponsorship form around the surgery to encourage patients to pledge money for The Samaritans to see their doctor lose two stone in three months.

But in the event, he reached his target weight in two months.

The money is still being counted, but is expected to be about £200.

"I didn't go for any fancy diets, I just made sure that I cut down on my fat intake and reduced the amount of calories that I was taking in," he said.

"I also increased my exercise level. Because I spend part of my working week at the Great Western Hospital, I would walk there instead of driving."

He explained that as well as improving his self-esteem, his weight loss could provide a range of long term health benefits, such as reducing the risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancers and joint problems.

But instead of endearing himself to overweight patients, his slimming success seems to have put them off.

"When I was the chubby doctor, I think overweight people felt more comfortable about coming to see me and talk about their weight problems.

Contracts are given welcome

UNDER the patients' contracts scheme being considered, the documents would set out patients' responsibilities while offering them help in dieting, exercising and giving up smoking.

The proposals which could be included in Labour's manifesto for the next election describe the NHS as a 'free, yet finite service', where waste must be cut back.

The move follows rising concern over the strain placed on the NHS by avoidable illnesses linked to cigarettes, alcohol, poor food and workplace stress.

Sanctions against patients who refused to co-operate have yet to be outlined.

People in Swindon generally welcomed the idea.

Teacher Dinah Green-Armitage, 40, from Old Town said: "The problem for penalising people for smoking is that it is addictive. I thing the onus should be on the Government to do more to prevent people from smoking in the first place."

Builder Matthew Fry, 32, from Priory Vale, felt the approach was justified.

He said: "People expect their doctor to do everything for them. I agree that if people want to get recover from an illness, they should take their doctor's advice."