Raising awareness of Social Prescribing

Today, 14th March, is Social Prescribing Day. A chance to share the impact of social prescribing on people and communities and to explain how it works to those who may not be aware of it, highlighting how it can change lives.

Social Prescribing Link Workers provide social, emotional or physical wellbeing support and advice to patients. They might help people with issues such as loneliness, isolation, stress due to problems with debt or housing or with goals around physical fitness. 

Many GP practice teams now include Social Prescribing Link Workers, able to connect people to non-medical support that can improve their health and wellbeing.

Examples might include:

• Helping someone who is isolated to join a befriending group, an art class or a community gardening project, based on what matters to them.
• Connecting someone struggling with financial stress to a service that helps with managing debt or claiming benefits.
• Working with someone with high blood pressure to take up a form of exercise that they’re comfortable with.

Social prescribing involves understanding the complexities of people’s lives. It can help change the circumstances that make people unwell and empower people to manage existing health problems. It can help people to connect and to grow in confidence.

Slough based Social Prescriber Nitasha told us:

“I work in partnership with patients and closely with local organisations, to give our patients the best chance of achieving their goals. I find it so rewarding being able to guide patients to make a positive difference to their overall wellbeing.”

Ascot based Social Prescriber Lucy added:

“As Social Prescribers, we have more time to speak with patients than a GP. Our appointments are half an hour which gives us plenty of time to chat and understand what a patient would like help with. It’s important that we offer individual support, so I meet patients over a few appointments to identify and set goals.

“As Social Prescribers, we have strong relationships with the GPs and other members of the practice team meaning if I’m worried about anyone I can raise my concerns and make a referral.

“It’s great when you get feedback. I have just heard from a gentleman who I have been helping to find alternative housing, something that is more suited to his current needs. I helped him fill out the housing application forms, I liaised on his behalf with his current landlord and the council and I have just found our he’s been offered a one bedroom flat in the area. I couldn’t be more delighted!”

There are many stories showing the successes of Social Prescribing just like the one above and if you’d like to read more you can visit The National Academy for Social Prescribing.

If you feel you could benefit from speaking with a Social Prescribing Link Worker, contact your GP practice and request an appointment - you don’t need a GP referral to access this service.

Learn more about the roles you may have within your GP practice team at: https://fhac-archive.frimley.icb.nhs.uk/gethelp