Social Prescribing
Sam_Scope
Member Posts: 7,732 Disability Gamechanger
Social prescribing is a means of enabling GPs and other frontline healthcare professionals to refer people to ‘services’ in their community instead of offering only medicalised solutions to produce a social prescription that will help to improve their health and wellbeing.
The community activities range from art classes to singing groups, from walking clubs to gardening, and to many other interest groups. It is taking off across the country, particularly with people who are lonely or isolated; people with mild mental health issues who may be anxious or depressed; and, those who struggle to engage effectively with services.
It is also relevant to people with wider social issues such as poverty, debt, housing, relationship problems, all of which impact on their health and wellbeing. Very often these people have frequent repeat visits to their doctor or to their local emergency department – effectively trapping them in a ‘revolving door’ of services.
Have you ever heard of social prescribing?
I certainly hadn't but a few weeks ago I got a phonecall from my GP practice from someone asking me if I would be interested in finding out more. They got in touch because I have a chronic illness with multiple hospital visits and I see a few different clinics and services.A woman came out to visit me at home and we had a relaxed chat about what was going on with my health and in a broader subject in my life. She asked about my family, my illness, treatments and how I get on day to day. She asked about finances and benefits and then what I thought I may need support with. She was really easy to talk to and she explained my options really well.
She has arranged for someone from the CAB to come out and see me to talk through my PIP and blue badge and has also arranged some free one to one counselling. There is also the option to try some complementary therapies like massage.
What's happening already?
- Nearly half of all clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) across England are investing in social prescribing programmes
- 1 in 5 GPs regularly refer patients to social prescribing. 40 per cent would refer if they had more information about available services
Impact
It is also improving people’s health and wellbeing and is contributing to building stronger communities.
If this is of interest to you, then ask your GP if it is available in your area and to find out more, take a look on the NHS website here.
Have you taken part in social prescribing? Is it something you would be interested in? Let us know your thoughts and experiences today.
Senior online community officer
Replies
This is the post I was talking about the other day, it would be great to hear your take on it!
Senior online community officer
Disability Gamechanger - 2019
Senior online community officer
Excellent post! I really believe that social prescribing is the way forward.
All too often GPs / consultants are prescribing drugs to people which long term simply don't work, in this sense there is a real sense of HUGE numbers of people just being written off.
The beauty of social prescribing is that it is creative and personal, more importantly it has the potential to give people hope again.
The only difficulty that some people will have is contemplating the idea of 'getting better' and functioning again i.e. the implications of that given that some have been written off for many years...
Let's hope that this takes off and that the Government's investigation into prescribing finally means that people will be offered treatment that works rather than an existence on medication/benefits.
Emma
www.emmawestcounselling.co.uk
Nobody wants to go to a segregated special place where all the cripples are rounded up to be patronised.
Groucho marks was only partly joking with that famous remark that he wouldn't want to join any club that would take people like him as members (!)
Of course, if bingo or ballroom dancing is your wish, you may like to get the nhs to pay for it. Or, if endless useless drugs are pointless, you may welcome an encouraging companion to accompany you, to a sociable hobby, till you get into the routine.
On this board, many mention being virtually housebound. They are almost certainly the ones in greatest need, and the most hard to reach of the population.
By definition, the proposed target is a group who have demonstrated they are well supplied with an easy time facing GPS and receptionists, and making the journeys to the surgery so frequently they are a nuisance.
By definition , therefore, they are well provided with a positive attitude, with companions and/or with ample mobility and independence. The folk who stay quietly, unhappily, unconfidently at home are no nuisance to g.P's, because they are unlikely to ever see them.
Would a downhearted and disabled person be so optimistic , positive and full of hope, that he A) trusting believes that merely asking for some pills, and constantly repeating the same request, is sure to change his life? And,
I am not surprised the good effect this has on one's health. I certainly would do much better if had a program like that.