As part of our Medicines Optimisation portfolio, we commissioned The University of Leicester to review current social prescribing activity across the region to support the work of East Midlands colleagues and to identify how our resources could be best utilised.

Social prescribing takes a holistic approach to people’s health and wellbeing which enables health professionals to refer people to a range of local, non clinical services.

There is emerging evidence that social prescribing services can improve patient outcomes, reduce GP attendance frequency, and reduce prescribing.

The research involved the creation of exemplar case studies from each of the counties in the East Midlands and the development of a survey tool used to identify the range of social prescribing schemes in use across the region and their core components.

 We have made the survey available for independent use by other NHS organisations and other stakeholders delivering NHS England and NHS Improvement commissioned work. You can access a survey user guide here.

Resources