Social prescribing

Did you know greater exposure to nature and greenspace has been associated with better mental health and wellbeing outcomes, improved recovery and reduced socio-economic health inequalities?

Identify patients who may benefit from a referral to a social prescriber

Invite your social prescriber to multidisciplinary team meetings

Promote the health benefits of spending time in green spaces and signpost to existing centres

Consider ways to increase greenspace on your premises

'Social prescribing also aims to support individuals to take greater control of their own health.' 

 

 

Social prescribing is intended for people who are not able to access services for themselves, or who need some help determining the best route of support. Many people can be signposted to appropriate scheme without the need for a referral from a clinician or social prescriber. 

In addition, greater exposure to nature and greenspace has been associated with better mental health and wellbeing outcomes, improved recovery from illness, and reduced socio-economic health inequalities. It has been estimated that £2.1 billion per year could be saved in health costs if everyone in England had good access to greenspace.

Across primary care we can support our social prescribing principle by taking the following actions:

  • Consider patients who may benefit from a referral to a social prescriber.
  • Invite your social prescriber to multidisciplinary team meetings.
  • Signpost patients to existing community centres and resources.
  • Promote the health benefits of spending time in nature and green spaces.
  • Consider ways to increase greenspace on your premises, for example through schemes such as the NHS Forest https://nhsforest.org/.

The King’s Fund describes social prescribing as:

 A means of enabling health professionals to refer people to a range of local, non-clinical services. Recognising that people’s health and wellbeing are determined mostly by a range of social, economic and environmental factors, social prescribing seeks to address people’s needs in a holistic way.

It also aims to support individuals to take greater control of their own health. 

Schemes delivering social prescribing can involve a range of activities that are typically provided by voluntary and community sector organisations.

Examples include volunteering, arts activities, group learning, gardening, befriending, cookery, healthy eating advice and a range of sports.  

Those who could benefit from social prescribing schemes include people with mild or long-term mental health problems, people with complex needs, people who are socially isolated and those with multiple long-term conditions who frequently attend either primary or secondary health care.

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