What is Social Prescribing?
GPs have many people visiting them with non-medical issues, such as feeling lonely, isolated, or stressed by work, or perhaps they have a debt problem or a welfare issue – all of which can affect a person’s health and wellbeing.
As well as offering practical and emotional support, social prescribers have the time to work with patients to find out what matters to them; this may be to help connect them to a specific service or a community group, where they can make friends, learn new skills and gain support or advice.
The idea behind social prescribing is to help patients have more control over their own health and find ways to improve their wellbeing in a way that works for each patient.
Social Prescribing Link Workers – Claire and Lindsay
The NHS are recognising that patients with social prescriptions get better and feel better faster than those treated with medicine alone, which is why they are funding 1000 Social Prescribing Link Workers across Primary Care.
In addition to working with patients in practices across the Rural Alliance, our Social Prescribing Link Workers have also spent time locating the services and activities that are available in the local community, not only so they can connect patients to them, but to also identify the gaps in each area so they can work with the community to help “bridge this gap” and create desired, sustainable groups and activities.
They are also working with Chapter Mental Health charity, to help deliver a 6 week Mental Health and Wellbeing course in Tarporley (also in Kelsall and Tattenhall), with hope to create a peer support group, following the completion of the course.
Who will I be referred to?
There are four social prescribing services, working together across the Rural Alliance:
- Brightlife
- Wellbeing Coordinator
- Mental Health Link Worker
- Social Prescribing Link Worker
Patients will be referred to the service which best fits their needs – please ask how you can be referred.
