In a recent speech the Health Secretary in England, Matt Hancock, called for an increase in social prescribing saying ‘There is a growing evidence base that social prescribing can be better for patients than medicine’.
But what is social prescribing, does it work, and how do we, as physiotherapists tap into the resources that are in the community to be able to effectively signpost patients.
We are going to be chatting about social prescribing in our next #physiotalk chat on Monday 17th September at 8.30pm BST.
The Kings Fund define social prescribing (sometimes referred to as community referral), is a means of enabling GPs, nurses and other primary care professionals to refer people to a range of local, non-clinical services.
They go on to say that social prescribing is designed to support people with a wide range of social, emotional or practical needs and recognise this will include referral onto physical or sporting activities. This has clear links to our physiotherapy practice – but should we also be referring onto gardening clubs, befrienders or arts activities?
If we refer to third sector and voluntary schemes, should we have an agreed referral route locally, or does the range of opportunities we could refer onto make that impossible? We want to learn from you – how does social prescribing run in your area and what can we learn from others?
Questions to consider?
What do you understand by the term ‘Social prescribing’
How important is it to underpin the ‘prescription’ with an effective conversation?
What types of social prescribing can you access in your area?
How have you set up local referral schemes?
How effective have these been?
Do you review patients following a social prescription referral?
Transcript
Missed the chat – catch up here
Resources
Information on the Kings und Social Prescribing event
Evidence briefing on Social prescribing
Health Scotland Social prescribing resources
The role of signposting and social prescribing in improving health and wellbeing
