Increase in social prescribing in Wales

Recent data has shown a clear increase in social prescribing in Wales.

The prescribing of activities like exercise classes, gardening and arts groups is growing and helping to reduce the burden on GPs.

The data shows that there has been a year on year increase in referrals and use of social prescribing from around 10,000 in 2018 to 2019 to just over 25,000 in 2020 to 2021.

Evidence has suggested that it reduces the footfall to GP surgeries by 15% to 28%, and around 20% of patients go to their GP for social problems.

Deputy minister for mental health and wellbeing Lynne Neagle has launched a National Framework for Social Prescribing, which seeks to support local action to mainstream social prescribing across Wales.

Neagle said: "Social prescribing is not one size fits all, and it can have a tremendous impact on all areas of our lives. It can support health and wellbeing, help people whilst they are on waiting lists and manage pain, reduce loneliness and boost employability by improving skills and confidence.

"Social prescribing is woven into the very fabric of what Welsh Government does in terms of empowering people and communities. We made a commitment to introduce an all-Wales framework to roll out social prescribing to tackle isolation, and improve outcomes for people by giving them more choice and control over their lives. It can also provide an improved sense of belonging when people get involved in the community.  

"I am delighted to set out our plans for a National Framework for Social Prescribing so we can better empower individuals to recognise their own needs, access support, and reduce impact on front line services."

Dr Amrita Jesurasa, Consultant in Public Health Medicine at Public Health Wales, said: "Evidence shows that a broad range of social, economic, and environmental factors have a very real impact on the wellbeing of individuals and there will be times when people might need extra support with a wide range of issues affecting their mental, physical or social wellbeing.

"Social prescribing helps connect people to groups and services in the community to support them with lots of different aspects of their life. For example, to reduce loneliness, to access physical health opportunities or to help manage debt. Through these preventative approaches, individuals are empowered to make their own choices and engage more with their community, and evidence suggests that the pressure on primary care services could also potentially be reduced through use of social prescribing."