It is estimated that around 20% of patients consult their GP for what is primarily a social problem. Whilst healthcare professionals are best placed to support patients’ medical needs, they are not always equipped to help patients with their social and economic issues which also have an important impact on their health.
Social prescribing schemes provided by voluntary and community sector have been developed to address this issue by offering patients referred by health professionals the opportunity and, crucially, the time to talk about their issues in an informal and often non-clinical setting.
Their services include a wide range of practical information, guidance, advice, community activity, physical activities, befriending and enabling services.
Social prescribing schemes achievements can include helping to address the psychological problems and low levels of well-being often manifest in frequent attenders in GP.
The impact of this work is so significant that the NHS recently announced that it would fund 1,000 social prescribing workers to support primary care practices by April 2021. The results prove that through social prescribing, we can reduce the burden on our medical professionals and make an enormous difference in the lives of people in social and economic turmoil.
At the Norfolk Centre for Social Develop, we have been designing training that will give important skills and knowledge to social prescriber so that they can be able to provide qualitative and effective service. We are also working on a practical guide for social prescribing, which will be used by community connectors and link workers.