Social Prescribing
What is Social Prescribing?
It is a means of enabling primary care services to refer patients with social, emotional or practical needs to a range of local, non-clinical services, often provided by the voluntary and community sector. It is about linking people up to activities in the community that they might benefit from and connecting people to non-medical sources of support. There is increasing evidence to support the use of social interventions for people experiencing a range of common health problems.
Admin Team members at Boughton Health Centre have undergone extensive sign posting training to ensure we can refer you to the correct services and professionals. We have the following social prescribing professionals and if you feel you would benefit from speaking to one of these professionals, please don’t hesitate to call the Practice on 01244 325421 and we will be happy to help:
Our Social Prescribing Link Worker – Louise
Our Practice’s Social Prescribing Link Worker is there to listen to you and put you in touch with the people and activities that might help, especially if you live alone, have no support and need help with food shopping or collecting prescriptions.
Your Link Worker might introduce you to a community group, a new activity or local club. Or they might help you find legal advice or debt counselling. They can assist you with finding relevant information and guidance. Your Link Worker can even support you to create something new such as a gardening club, a fishing group, a “men’s in sheds” or knit and natter group.
What are the benefits of social prescribing?
- Feel more positive and better generally.
- Reduce/manage conditions such as type 1 or 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
- Have more contacts in their community and feel less lonely or isolated.
- Improve mental well-being.
- Reduce medication.
- Manage symptoms better.
- Improve lifestyle.
- Look after yourself better.
- Improve your money, housing and work situation.
- Improve relationships with family and friends.
- Stay well for longer and/or reduce the impact of long-term conditions.
Our Wellbeing Coordinator – Milanda
Our Wellbeing Coordinators works within the surgeries and provides support and information to help people aged 18 and above, manage their long term conditions. The aim is to support individuals to:
Be Healthy…Stay Safe…Enjoy & Achieve…Economic Wellbeing…Make Positive Contributions
- Building confidence to manage health conditions
- Finding out what groups and activities are available in your area
- Introducing opportunities for you to socialise and meet new people
- To help use new technology to access services and maintain contact with friends and family
- Access services and support to maintain your home
- Providing contact information and encouragement to help you to take up physical activity
- Introducing opportunities for you to socialise and meet new people
- Money matters
- Falls Prevention
- Independent living services
- Independent care brokerage
- Advocacy/Mental Health Advocacy
- Housing issues
- Benefit Information
Healthbox
Healthbox is an organistion based in Cheshire that offer a wide variety of services, such as:
- Free mindfullness podcasts
- Wellbeing workshops
- Falls prevention
- counselling services
We refer patients to Healthbox via our social prescribing link worker. to find out more, click the image below or ask your GP about social prescribing.
