Hancock backs policy of social prescribing

As part of his involvement at the NHS Expo, Health Secretary Matt Hancock recommended that health workers support a dramatic expansion of ‘social prescribing’ as a way of relieving the pressure on the NHS.

Social prescribing involves putting someone in touch with a service or activity that is seen as therapeutic and often includes referring them to a link worker who works with people to access local sources of support.

Encouraging the idea of encouraging patients to take part in sports and social activities rather than prescribing drugs, Hancock said the policy would also improve patients’ chances of recovering from their illness, especially those who are isolated or have certain mental health problems.

In his speech, he said: “There is a growing evidence base that social prescribing can be better for patients than medicine. Of course there will also be medicine prescribed – and rightly so – but I want to see the balance shifted in favour of social prescribing.

“The nature of social prescribing is that what you’re prescribing is a social activity, so of course, anybody can suggest to somebody that they do a social activity. My wife regularly tells me to do more exercise. But what I really care about is ensuring that within the NHS it is normal practice to consider a formal social prescription and that the growing evidence base for the value of social prescribing is taken on board by practitioners.”