Social Prescribing
Your Social Prescriber can work with you to identify your non-medical needs and support you in accessing the right services for you.
Your Social Prescriber can offer support in these areas:
- Loneliness and Isolation
- Social development
- Financial issues
- Housing concerns
- Family concerns
Examples of how Social Prescribing can help?
- Support groups
- Coffee mornings
- Exercise and sport
- Financial assistance
- Joining local activity groups (yoga etc)
- Housing support
Why Social Prescribing
One in five GP appointments focuses on wider social needs, rather than acute medical issues. In areas of high deprivation, many GPs report that they spend significant amounts of time dealing with the consequences of poor housing, debt, stress and loneliness.
Social prescribing and community-based support is part of the NHS Long Term Plan’s commitment to make personalised care business as usual across the health and care system and to bring additional capacity into the multi-disciplinary team. Social Prescribers are an integral part of the primary care network team, delivering holistic service to patients and improving the health and wellbeing of the local population.
Social Prescriber
The social prescriber for our surgery is Jessica Litherland.
How can I get access to a Social Prescriber?
Speak to a member of our reception team who can give you the information you need.
Alternatively, you can speak to one of the GP’s in an appointment to ask them for more information on this and if they can refer you on to the social prescriber to help you talk about the issue you are facing and find you the right help.
The eligibility criteria for the Social Prescriber is anyone 18+ who is registered at our surgery, who may need help and support in a particular area.