Social Prescribing
Our Social Prescribing team has been successfully working alongside GPs in Merton since 2017.
Information For Merton Organisations
Social Prescribing is a way of linking patients in primary care with sources of support within the community. It provides GPs with a non-medical referral option that can operate alongside existing treatments to improve health and wellbeing
Our Social Prescribers can help link patients to your organisation, to access your services for positive lifestyle changes. We can also refer them into community health services and social care if necessary. Social Prescribers can also provide patients with information on topics such as employment, training, benefits, housing and legal advice.
The service is managed by Merton Connected in partnership with the Merton Clinical Commissioning Group, Merton Council, Merton GP Practices and the voluntary and community sector.
We refer patients to organisations focusing on the below:
- Benefits advice
- Budgeting
- Befriending
- Bereavement support
- Employability support programmes
- Exercise sessions
- Health walks
- Informal carers support
- Social activities
- Support groups (eg, diabetes)
- Transport (eg, dial-a-ride)
- Volunteering
Positive Health and Wellbeing Outcomes
There is emerging evidence that Social Prescribing can lead to a range of positive health and wellbeing outcomes for people. Some of the benefits highlighted so far have been improved quality of life and emotional wellbeing. The following reports and short film give an insight into how it has worked over the last few years.
