What is social prescribing?
Social prescribing is a means by which GP’s, Nurses and other health and care professionals can refer people to a range of local, non-clinical services to support an individual’s good health and overall wellbeing.
Social Prescribing seeks to address people’s needs in a holistic way and by connecting people to that support within the local community. Social prescribing encourages people to be better informed, to understand more about their health, and enabling them to be more proactive in shaping their own personal wellbeing.
Social Prescribing begins with a conversation in a non-judgmental way to discover “What matters to you”. It can then
- Help you work out what you need to improve your health and wellbeing.
- Support you to make practical and realistic plans to change things for the better.
- Help navigate more traditional health and social care services when needed.
Some of the issues may include signposting and support for:
- Accessing help with transport, mobility and accessibility.
- Accessing advice around money, debt, benefits and housing,
- Signposting for managing forms and correspondence
- Making meaningful social connections.
- Connecting with mental health and psychological support services and social services.
- Maintaining healthy lifestyles, activities and exercise.
- Finding and maintaining employment and meaningful activities.
- Getting help with activities of daily living and assistive technology
- Getting hep with any family or caring responsibilities you may have.
- Helping you to access community groups and activities.
Philip Mardlin is the Social Prescriber at Ivel Medical Centre. To request a face-to-face or telephone appointment, please use our online forms.