Supporting the community through social prescribing

PRIMARY CARE, COMMUNITY AND

Whether it’s providing help to support parents of an asthmatic child or a simple chat over a cup of tea, volunteers working with Heath Street Health Centre are proving that social prescribing is the perfect tonic for the community surrounding the practice. Working in collaboration with charities Newbigin Community Trust, Flourish, Earth Gardening, and Humanify, an integrated hub has been set up within the reception area of the surgery which is based at Summerfield Primary Care Centre in Winson Green.

It’s a cosy space where people can pop along to for support, as Sandra Whitelock, Heath Street Health Centre Service Manager, explained: “Anyone from the community can drop in and talk to the team about benefits, drug or alcohol problems, education or general support.

“On average around 70 people are accessing the hub a month which has led to us increasing the number of days it operates. We are open Tuesday, Thursday and now on Mondays.

“We’ve seen and supported a variety of people, from a mother who wanted help for her child with autism, to assisting a man with his CV so he could get back into work,” added Sandra.

“The volunteers have also provided mental health support for those who’ve been bereaved.

“Most recently the parents of a child with asthma were given the support they needed to register with a GP who provided same day specialist chronic disease assessment resulting in no further admissions to A&E.”

She added: “It’s not just about providing information though – we encourage people to come along and socialise there. We have a craft area set up for young children and there’s tea, coffee and snacks available for free.

“It’s an all-age, whole population approach that works particularly well for people who have one or more long term conditions, need support with low level mental health issues, are lonely or isolated, or have complex social needs which affect their wellbeing.”

Special events such as coffee mornings and earth gardening seed exchange sessions have been particularly successful in encouraging vulnerable groups such as older residents to view the hub as an approachable, safe space.

Sandra added: “The hub operates walk in appointments and referrals from all practices in the area and GPs have reported a positive impact on patients and staff due to improving connectivity and access during this challenging period.

“Language and interpreter services are available, and the hub has catered activities for children and young people. This has greatly improved population access to health and wellbeing services for some of the most vulnerable patient groups such as refugees, those with mental health conditions, and working families.”