VOLUNTEER Cornwall’s Laura Chapman and Julie Pollard gave a presentation on social prescribing at the latest Launceston Community Network Panel meeting at Launceston Town Hall on Thursday, January 9.

Social prescribing enables GPs, nurses and other primary care professionals to refer people to a range of local, non-clinical services.

A social prescribing link officer then contacts the patient to make a one to one appointment at the surgery.

Laura, who is Volunteer Cornwall’s South East Cornwall community maker, which covers Saltash, Launceston, Liskeard and Looe (and in between), said: “An example of an area someone maybe struggling with is finances. We look at each individual, look at situations they’re with and help find them services them which can help them.

“This helps with improved wellbeing and social isolation and then a social prescription plan is then agreed with activities, which can include the likes of gardening, debt advice, employment help, volunteering, walking groups, healthy eating, sport, being part of it.

“We also have a small enabling fund, for those who can’t afford it. It helps them and means that the financial barrier which can sometimes be there, isn’t a problem.

“We then have follow ups at six weeks, three months and six months.”

The project is made up of partner organisations, Active Plus, Age UK Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Chaos Group, Cornwall Neighbourhoods for Change, Eden and Pentreath.

NHS England have made some long term plan commitments, which will see 2.5-million people benefit from social prescribing over the next five years, a personal health budget and new support for managing their own health in partnership with patients’ groups and the voluntary sector.

NHS England also stated: “Through social prescribing, the range of support available to people widen, diversify and become accessible across the country. Link workers within primary care networks will work with people to develop tailored plans and connect them to local groups and support services.”

Over 1,000 trained social prescribing link workers will be in place by the end of 2020/21 rising further by 2023/24, with the aim of that over 900,000 people are able to be referred to social prescribing schemes by then.

From last July, primary care networks have been asked to work collaboratively with their CCGs (clinical commissioning groups), local authorities and VCSE partners to create a shared local social prescribing plan which builds on existing social prescribing schemes, recruits and embeds link workers in primary care network multi-disciplinary teams, extending access to social prescribing and provides local funding and development support to the voluntary and community sector, who receive social prescribing referrals.

Since then, eight full-time social prescribing link workers have been recruited with 29 surgeries referring, the main reasons being loneliness/social isolation, mental health and wellbeing, employment, housing and lifestyle.

Laura said: “Mental health and wellbeing was the main reason at 54%.”

Facts between October 21, 2018, and December 31, 2019, show that 67% of referrals were male with 26% of those being for the 56-70 age bracket.

Julie, who is the social prescribing co-ordinator for Volunteer Cornwall, added: “Things are going well. It reduces the amount of appointments and some feedback is that over 70% of people said they feel much better. We’re heading in the right direction.”

They then talked about how this affects the East Cornwall area.

They said: “For this area we’re funding two additional link workers. We had an appointee for Launceston, Callington and Gunnislake, but due to some health problems they’ve had to take a step back. But someone for Launceston, Callington and Gunnislake will be appointed soon.”

Chair of the meeting, Cllr Neil Burden, said: “Well done, this is all new to us,” before thanking them for their time.