Social prescribing

I work with Incredible Edible Lambeth and we are right behind social prescribing; we know that getting out and about and growing food is not only good for your physical health but also your mental health. Time spent in Nature is one of the best things we can all do for our health. We have developed walking trails to visit green spaces in Lambeth. Check us out at www.incredibleediblelambeth.org

We have been researching the impact of Museums on Prescription for the past few years and found that museum programmes improved
psychological wellbeing, increased self-esteem, optimism and hope, and reduced social isolation.

More information is available here:
https://culturehealthresearch.wordpress.com/museums-on-prescription/
https://culturehealthresearch.files.wordpress.com/2017/10/mopguide.pdf

This idea is new to me, so I am plainly not aware of it being available in Wandsworth. Clearly some people who approach GP's have problems or causes for their illness that are not wholly or partly medical. Having a way to address those non-medical causes or contributory factors would be nice. Any such service needs to know where the boundaries of it's responsibility lie, and that will be a challenge. High housing costs leading to debt and stress and anxiety requires lower cost housing, sharing costs with an additional tenant or a better pay, none of which are medical or close to it. Services like Citizen's Advice Bureau once provided one kind of support, but their funding has been cut. Libraries provide a range information on how to find things out, but there are less of those now.  To be more positive, guidance and support on diet and exercise and where to find support to improve those are closer to the remit of general practice. 

Never heard if it but agree with previous commentator that it sounds brilliant! How is it funded? And can anyone benefit?

think ok idea

but concept was developed to reduce hospital admissions so placing it in primary care isnt going to do this

surely this is just adding to GPs workload?

totally agree with addressing underlying issues for people

recommend much better use of older people to help connect communities eg voluntereing with kids etc

how much will it cost?

will it widen inequalities wont those with greatest health literacy eg the well off benefit more than those in most deprived

I think its a great idea and much of the work I do could be categorised as social prescribing as I work on free community workshops that are based on gardening, art or considering the environment and public realm.  In my experience there are a lot of people who would like this type of activity to happen on an informal, drop-in basis.

My questions would be:

Where does someone get the information about projects from?

How can someone offering free workshops promote them to people looking to get involved?

Could a network of people work together to start their own, small community groups based around green spaces etc.

Superficially this sounds attractive - but it is nothing new.  GPs, nurses, senior reception staff, librarians, council workers... all have been signposting people to local activites and resources for years.  Clealry this is a sensible thing to do.  I However, I see two problems with the current initiative.

One is that by calling it "prescribing" it implies there is some right to have these activities or services, possibly funded by the NHS.  This is not the case: it is simply signposting  to activities or services which are provided by Councils and the voluntary sector.  These bodies  will apply their own restictions and funding requirements.

Secondly, the vicious cuts to Council funding (which often also supports local charities and voluntary sector) means that there are ever fewer such activities to which we can signpost people.

As a GP, I am seeing ever more people who are not quite old/sick/poor enough to qualify for support.  They know as well as I do that what they need is decent housing/work/benefits and not a prescription for antidepressant; but these problems are not going to fixed by attending a community singing group either.  I fear that "social prescrubig" is little more than a glossy distraction.

Superficially this sounds attractive - but it is nothing new.  GPs, nurses, senior reception staff, librarians, council workers... all have been signposting people to local activites and resources for years.  Clealry this is a sensible thing to do.  I However, I see two problems with the current initiative.

One is that by calling it "prescribing" it implies there is some right to have these activities or services, possibly funded by the NHS.  This is not the case: it is simply signposting  to activities or services which are provided by Councils and the voluntary sector.  These bodies  will apply their own restictions and funding requirements.

Secondly, the vicious cuts to Council funding (which often also supports local charities and voluntary sector) means that there are ever fewer such activities to which we can signpost people.

As a GP, I am seeing ever more people who are not quite old/sick/poor enough to qualify for support.  They know as well as I do that what they need is decent housing/work/benefits and not a prescription for antidepressant; but these problems are not going to fixed by attending a community singing group either.  I fear that "social prescrubig" is little more than a glossy distraction.

I have not heard of this social prescribing. I am in Brent area and would like to know more information.  Currently I am basically helping my two disabled friends and would like to get a better life for them. Where can I get in contact with the right people. 

I hadn't heard of it before but think its a very good idea. My main concerns would be who will fund the advisors?  
I know there are a lot of my activities in my area but no central location to find out about them.

I am delighted with this idea.  So many people, especially in London, are lonely and don't know what is out there or who to contact.   I remember years ago my GP prescribing subsidised visita to the gym at Ironmonger Baths (for a physical medical condition).  She was obviously ahead of her time and now I'm sure would be very willing to participate in community prescriptions.   I am a little concerned about the funding though, it's ok to say groups can be set up but someone has to initiate it (a local development worker?) and they should be paid but out of what budget?  Hopefully not by the NHS as their funds are dwindling so fast. 

There is a lot of good in this idea. It's very easy to feel isolated in London, especially if one is new. Loneliness, stress, and depression are social problems with medical consequences. Opportunities for people to experience community are really important.

Charities that participate in this endeavor should revisit their own volunteering guidelines and how they treat potential volunteers. If someone takes the time to contact an organization, the organization should acknowledge that person within a few days. Having extensive NGO experience in the US, I was surprised by how many charities have trainings that may only occur a couple of times in a year or such exacting criteria for volunteering that many are turned away. I can imagine someone who is lonely and tries to take a positive step like volunteering would feel rejected and demoralized if the charity doesn't even acknowledge them.

I'm glad that the idea of social prescriptions is being put forward. It has a great deal of potential.

yes, I have heard about it.

Great idea to get residents active, connected and involved in local groups and activities.  This should be expanded to cover all areas.

All woul be great if Mayor would read our thouts not only said what he woun't.

He did not listened when we ask not to ingaded low qualification specialist from abroun in NHS and Surgeries particularly.

He did not listened about Christmas Eve and transport on Christmas Day that was been cuted off, too soon before midnaight not after 2 am as been asked.

new Years Eve was terible because he did not wan't to published restricted areas, tickets wasn't awaylable by gates as promised, crew did not now directions shortest routes was'n been calculated.

I did said and I will repet please can you listen us, Mayor Sigid Khan?