Social prescribing (also known as community referral) is when a Social Prescribing Link Worker engages with a patient to support them with a plan which can be a series of signposting or referrals to support in the community, in order to improve their health and wellbeing.[1] The concept has gained support in the NHS organisations of the United Kingdom as well as in Ireland[2] and the Netherlands[3] and forms part of the NHS Long Term Plan. The referral mechanisms, target groups, services offered through social prescribing vary across settings. However, the process usually involves screening for non-medical needs and referrals to support services that are typically offered by community-based organizations.[4]
The goals of social prescribing are to reduce the rise of healthcare costs and easing pressure of general practice clinics.[1] A 2015 Commission in the UK estimated that about 20% of patient consultations were for social problems rather than medical problems.[5]
- ^ a b Bickerdike L, Booth A, Wilson PM, Farley K, Wright K (13 December 2016). "Social prescribing: less rhetoric and more reality. A systematic review of the evidence". BMJ Open. 2017 (7): e013384. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2016-013384. PMC 5558801. PMID 28389486.
- ^ "What is social prescribing and how it can benefit your health". Irish Times. 9 April 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
- ^ "Community activity as a path to better health". Financial Times. 20 November 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
- ^ Islam, M. Mofizul (27 November 2020). "Social Prescribing—An Effort to Apply a Common Knowledge: Impelling Forces and Challenges". Frontiers in Public Health. Vol. 8. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2020.515469.
- ^ "Plan to expand social prescribing in bid to tackle health inequalities". GP Online. 24 August 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2017.