Social Prescribing
Social prescribing is a means of enabling GPs and other primary care practitioners (community nurses, therapists, community mental health teams) to refer people to a range of local, non-clinical and non-pharmalogical services.
Social prescribing recognises that people’s health and wellbeing is determined by a range of factors and clinical interventions are limited in their ability to address the wide range of needs that people may have.
The sorts of services and activities that people may be referred or signposted to include volunteering, gardening, walking groups, arts, healthy eating advice, sports, social groups, advice and guidance services on employment, housing, benefits.
‘Social prescribing works for a wide range of people, including people:
• with one or more long-term conditions
• who need support with their mental health
• who are lonely or isolated
• who have complex social needs which affect their wellbeing.’ (NHS England)
We are exploring opportunities for collaboration on across the creative sector to improve the quality and provision of creative opportunities for participants referred to social prescribing and enhance skills and support for practitioners. If you would like to get involved, please call or send me an email.