Social prescribing

Author(s)

EATON Matthew

Publisher(s):

Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons Library

Publication year:

2020

This paper details the development of social prescribing policies in England and provides an overview of schemes in the devolved nations. Social prescribing is a means for GPs and other healthcare professionals to refer patients via a link worker to non-clinical services in the local community. Link workers help people to understand the underlying issues affecting their health and wellbeing and work with them to co-produce a personalised care and support plan. People can take up a range of activities and services including the arts, nature-based activities, physical activity classes and counselling. This briefing examines the background and path to social prescribing, looking at key initiatives and reports; Government policy; the benefits of social prescribing; and social prescribing in the devolved nations. (Edited publisher abstract)