It is no longer quite so easy to just pop in to see our GP for a quick appointment, or attend drop-in services.
It is no longer quite so easy to just pop in to see our GP for a quick appointment, or attend drop-in services.
A new model for social prescribing has emerged - a whole-community approach, with a range of cross-sector agencies referring vulnerable people into the care and support they need.
Primary care, NHS, local authorities and the VCSE sector are creating new partnerships and ways of working to support the millions of people needing help across our communities during the pandemic.
Volunteers have also become essential for the delivery of this care – working alongside staff to directly support vulnerable people, and help social prescribing teams to deal with their increased workloads.
This new form of social prescribing continues to address traditional health and wellbeing needs, such as long-term health conditions, physical and mental health, loneliness and isolation, but it now also supports people with their basic needs – such as food parcels, shopping, medications, someone to chat to, or someone to walk the dog!
