Social prescribing

I've known about social prescribing for a long time as I run singing groups for the health and social benefits they offer. I have the feedback from participants to show that it makes a huge difference to people's physical, emotional and mental health, as well as helping to combat loneliness.

For a long time I've wanted doctors and other prescribers to take social prescribing much more seriously: it leads to fewer GP visits and fewer hospital admissions; and participants gain in many different ways (socially, emotionally, physically) from taking part in the various activities prescribed. The people leading the activities - like me - need to be paid as the work is part of our livlihoods: we're not volunteers. And because this kind of group participation can lead to fewer GP visits and hospital admissions, paying for social prescribing could save the NHS lots of money and time. Simple! Time to grasp the nettle. . .

Good idea, but they might have to stop cutting leisure centres, parks and libraries... 

I'm not convinced that a system that relies on volunteers to provide legal, social and housing advice is going to do more good than harm. Why volunteers? And where do you think these competent, hardworking, ready-to-leap-in, financially independent volunteers, with adequate time to deal with the 20% of NHS patients who might benefit from this intervention, are hiding? Is this the retired supporting the retired? If the only way you've been able to justify this as cost-neutral is by relying on people training and becoming accredited to do what looks like a full-time job without pay, then it's not cost-neutral: it's unsustainable. People need to be compensated, generously, for supporting and aiding lonely, confused, stressed out, angry, scared strangers. Social workers are already notoriously overworked and underpaid, and we regularly see how this compromises their impactfulness: how many children and vulnerable adults slip through their fingers despite their best efforts. If you're committed to actually providing this service, effectively, it needs to be people's real jobs, with training and a salary and job security. London is already expensive and stressful to live in. There are precious few people around who have not only the time to be a volunteer social worker, but the inclination, stamina and emotional fortitude.

People are going to the doctor for depression and stress. They need real mental health care, effective and affordable legal aid, and better housing laws. Not wooly self-help apps and a cohort of extra-credit sixth-formers or well-meaning pensioners being overwhelmed by their neighbours' desperate pleas for attention and help.

I think social prescribing is a good thing, as long as it's not seen as a way to move the burden of care from the NHS and health care providers to organisations that run using volunteers and donations (e.g. that aren't necessarily stable in the long term). One thing I hear often regarding social prescribing is having someone visit their local park or green space more. This is great for destressing, mental health, social interaction and physical activity. However, parks are not free -- they require funding (funding that's been drastically cut, BTW) for maintenance and management. If enough doctors send patients to green spaces and organisations begin running activities and events in parks to meet the demand created from increased social prescribing, then added pressure gets put on parks and green spaces. People will talk about how much money was saved for the NHS, but what about the added cost of running the park? I'd much rather see people get outside, be more physically active and engage with others in their local green space, but there needs to be recognition that this does come with some cost.

Seems like an excellent idea which I would support

Social prescribing is a wonderful idea. I haven't felt the need to visit my doctor about depression or anything that got me down but, if I did, I hope I would be given a social prescription and not just pills. Why hasn't this been thought of before?

I think it’s a brilliant idea for improving wellbeing, reducing loneliness and building community connections. But the groups receiving the referrals need appropriate training and support to ensure that the setting is safe, welcoming and beneficial to all who take part.  They also need funding - VCS groups and organisations who take the bulk of referrals are already struggling with low resources and the value that they bring to social prescribing should be recognised and appropriately funded.

There is much frustraruin about local and national government. Many people don't really know much about it but would dearly learn with the aim of joining in and helping to make their society better and improve the conditions where they live. So I regard this proposal as a very good thing and I strongly recomend that one of the subjects for explanation and discussion is how good government can be created and used.

Great idea.  Parkrun, http://www.parkrun.org.uk  is free to all and has been mentioned but there are many others. The advantage of GP prescribing such activities is that they can potentially help the person choose something that is suitable as well as informing the person of what is available. A librarian, or citizens advice centre  could potentially also help do this, but coming from a GP would give it more weight and people would be more inclined to try it.

Giving the person agency so they feel they are in control of their health (both mental and physical) is an important component I think.

There are also online communitues, such as openlearn, futurelearn and free apps like duolingo, for those who want to learn and share comments. Learning and mental activity is important for wellbeing, and complements physical exercise.

One person commented on the "surfeit of non English speakers"? What a great idea,  centres for english tuition and conversation. I'm sure many would volunteer to help in such a good cause. Reminds me of the "mind your language" tv programme in the 70s lol, they had a great community feeling.

It is a brilliant idea, but the Government needs to invest in Services that can enable that.  Local authority run adult education providers are the perfect hub for community engagement and already do a lot of that work. The lack of funding over the last many years has led to a reduction in the valuable service that the providers offered.  In an economy that is driven by skills and employment, the faction of the community who are furthest from the skills market, need support with first time engagement - this is good for their physical and mental well being as well as combat social isolation.

NHS needs to work with the local providers to signpost those needing social prescribtion to the right avenues.  This has to be a integrated approach between goverment departments and local authoritities.

I beg of thee, do not be taken in by this insidiously devious piece of spin. Notice that they do not provide the references for the research they claim proves the efficacy of 'social prescribing'.  There is no mention of the fact that funding and resources for many of the activities they suggest can be prescribed have been viciously cut, so they are less available than ever for most people who need them.  Most GP surgeries have for decades had information on display about all sorts of support groups and other local community activities and services.  The reality is that despite a big promotion by government of how the NHS will be aiming at prevention, they are urging GPs to cut referrals made to hospital services. The outcome is that it can take so long to get those vital tests or specialist treatment that the illness has become very serious in many cases, or has become a permanent disabilty because treatment was left too late.  This 'social prescribing' is just another way of not giving the treatment that is needed, all part of the planned deconstruction of the NHS.  Learn new skills?  Only if you can afford the costly fees of private classes. Local community? Place-makers have planned out community interactions in local streets, preferring to swamp them with swarms of tourists and shoppers they provide with expensive bars and eateries and delicatessens with sky-high prices. 

Sounds like a good idea, something we try to do through Neighbourhood Watch. looking out for neighbours who might need help and staying in touch.

I am more concerned over how the roads in London are being wrecked by these mad bicycle only lanes - that are empty in the evenings and at nights, causing unnecessary polution from tail-backing vehicles.   Also - penalties should be firmly introduced for cyclists who do not use the lanes !

I think is a very good that the idea is been taken up as part of a health package. Communitiy organisations have developed projects in the past that very much coincide with this type of initiative, like Time Banks, in which people exchange time to help each other doing things according to their skills and abilities.

Are there resources available to support those who would explore, identify and put people in touch with their possible 'prescriptions' ?

Getting people talking to each other wherever they are in the community seems sensible. Isolation because we have a culture of keeping ourselves to ourselves, and fears due to exaggeration by the media of threats in day to day life, mean that we do not treat our neighborhood as a village. Many volunteer and low cost activities are going on all the time - and if GPs and other health professionals can be a gateway, great. We are all nervous taking the first step into something new - we need to remind others that we were once newbies at the activitiy, and be open to welcoming them.

It’s a great idea. I have planted a community woodland where I live and I’d love the NHS to prescribe patients to spend time in the wood. The local surgery hasn’t been in touch with us and probably doesn’t know of the woodland. The only downside would be the time needed to host the patients, not something I have the time, or training, to do, but if that was somehow sorted it would be great to think of the wood being used to help people get better and re-connect with nature.