Social prescribing

Social prescribing is a means of enabling health professionals to refer people to a range of local, non-clinical services. Recognising that people’s health and wellbeing are determined mostly by a range of social, economic and environmental factors, social prescribing seeks to address people’s needs in a holistic way. It also aims to support individuals to take greater control of their own health. 

Benefits to patients:

• improves people’s health and wellbeing, joins up care in local communities, reduces pressure on stretched NHS services and helps the health and care system to be more efficient.
• helps people with multiple physical and mental health conditions make decisions about managing their health, so they can live the life they want to live, based on what matters to them, as well as the evidence-based, good quality information from the health and care professionals who support them
• recognises that, for many people, their needs arise from circumstances beyond the purely medical, and will support them to connect to the care and support options available in their communities.

First Contact Practitioner

Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions encompass muscles, bones, joints, back pain and rarer autoimmune diseases. There are over 200 types of musculoskeletal conditions which effect adults and children, having a detrimental effect on their quality of life. First Contact Practitioners are trained physiotherapist who offers an assessment appointment.

Benefits to patients:

• Quick access to expert musculoskeletal assessment, diagnosis, treatment and advice.
• Shorter waiting times and less appointments than traditional secondary care referral.
• Simpler logistics, less need to travel, potentially miss appointments or suffer administrative errors.
• Opportunity to get lifestyle and physical activity advice from a qualified professional.
• Longer and more thorough appointments than GPs can currently offer.
• More in-depth appointments mean patients feel listened to, cared for and reassured.
• Short-term problems are treated faster, preventing them from becoming chronic.
• Opportunity for those with chronic conditions to get a good understanding of their condition, and the exercises and lifestyle changes that will help improve it
• Quicker access to imaging (MRI, X-ray, CT scans, and bone scans) if the FCP has direct access.

Clinical Pharmacist

Clinical pharmacists work with GPs and patients to address medicine adherence. They reviewing patients on complex medicine regimens and manage and prescribe for long-term conditions. They assist in triaging and managing common ailments and respond to acute medicine requests.

Benefits to patients:

• reduce waiting times for appointments
• increase access to healthcare
• improve screenings and diagnosis of chronic and common ailments
• reduce the wastage and overuse of medicines.

Occupational Therapist

Occupational therapists are playing an increasing role in primary care. They enable people living with a range of health problems and chronic conditions to overcome barriers so they can participate in everyday life, and improve their health and wellbeing.

Benefits to patients:

Occupational therapists help GPs to support patients who: 

• are frail, with complex needs
• live with chronic physical or mental health conditions 
• manage anxiety or depression 
• require advice to return or remain in work 
• need rehabilitation so they can continue with previous occupations (activities of daily living).