Social prescribing is an approach that connects patients to activities, groups, and services in their community to meet the practical, social and emotional needs that affect their health and wellbeing. In social prescribing, local agencies refer patients to a social prescribing link worker, who give patients time to focus on ‘what matters to me’.
Our social prescribing service is run through One Ellesmere Port Primary Care Network who have employed a team of social prescribing link workers. Our social prescribing link workers take a holistic approach to your health and wellbeing, by looking at the wider determinants that impact on your health and wellbeing. This can include, but not limited to, finances, loneliness, low confidence, low mood and anxiety, housing, employment, education or diet and exercise.
Benefits of social prescribing
- The social prescribing link workers take the time to listen to what matters to you, and to focus on your strengths to support you in setting your own realistic goals
- By working with various agencies including the voluntary sector, the council and other NHS Services, the social prescribing link workers have a broad knowledge of what is available to you, allowing you to access the right support, in the right place at the right time
- It is the aim of our social prescribing service to build more resilient communities and promote people’s autonomy to have more control over their own health outcomes
Referral to a social prescribing link worker
You do not need an appointment with your GP to make a referral to the social prescribing service. You can ring the medical centre and speak to a member of our Patient Services Team and let them know you want a referral to the social prescribing service. This will be actioned immediately.