Today is Social Prescribing Day! Led by the National Academy for Social Prescribing, Social Prescribing Day is an annual celebration of the people, organisations and communities who make social prescribing happen.
Our fantastic team of Primary Care Link Workers (PCLW) are Social Prescribers based in GP surgeries across York and meet with patients in surgery, at home or at community venues.
Through our Primary Care Link Workers, we provide a bespoke form of support, where we ask individuals what matters to them. We then develop a tailored plan, led by the person and their priorities, connecting them to community resources, groups and support services, learning and volunteering opportunities and peer support networks.
How Social Prescribing at York CVS is making a difference
Helping people to live the best lives they can
During 2023-24 the Primary Care Link Workers received over 4000 patients referrals from members of staff working within GP surgeries, Adult Social Care, Local Area Coordinators and through self-referrals using our dedicated Social Prescribing phone (01904 437911).
- 94% of patients reported that they were more satisfied with their lives after having input from the social prescribing team.
- 94% of patients felt happier after having input from the social prescribing team.
- 86% of patients felt less anxious after having input from the social prescribing team.
“My social prescriber is a treasure, it felt like I had a friend who was helping me and supporting me just that little bit to get to my goals.”
– Patient
Taking pressure off the NHS
York’s Primary Care Link Workers recorded how many GP appointments and how many A&E visits a patient had 12 months before working with a social prescriber and then the 12 months after. Of those patients who agreed to be recorded, the team found that on average across the four Primary Care Networks individual patients experienced up to:
- 60%reduction in GP attendances with the patients that we have worked with.
- 75% reduction in A&E attendances with the patients that we have worked with.
Transforming health services
READ: Celebrating the impact of Proactive Social Prescribing in York for Respiratory Health
Proactive Social Prescribing is a non-medical approach, offering tailored support to individuals to address challenges that impact their health and wellbeing. For people with respiratory conditions, this approach has been transformative. By connecting patients with services, community activities, and essential resources, the team helps people manage their conditions while improving their quality of life.
Supporting hospital discharge in York
To enable more patients to be safely discharged from York Hospital, York CVS, together with our VCSE partners, developed and coordinated a smooth referral pathway.
We supported 486 patients throughout 2023-24. The VCSE sector multi-disciplinary team included: York CVS, Age UK York, York Carers Centre and North Yorkshire Sport.
What is Social Prescribing?
Social Prescribing links people to non-medical sources of support, to improve their health and wellbeing.
People often seek help from health services for things that are primarily social issues, (e.g. loneliness, isolation, financial worries). Social prescribing widens, diversifies and makes more accessible the range of support available to people, enabling them to take greater control of their own health and wellbeing.
Watch the video below to find out more about Social Prescribing at York CVS.
“I think every time we’ve had an appointment there’s been progress and it keeps me going in the right direction. I feel more like I’m on track. I know it’s a long journey but I’m feeling positive.”
– Patient (Social Prescribing at York CVS)
“At York City Centre PCN our Social Prescribers provide an invaluable service, supporting our patients with their medical and social needs and empowering them to manage their own conditions to improve their health and wellbeing.”
– GP at York Central
