Final medical practice joins social prescribing

Since the scheme launched in summer 2021, the team has helped nearly 400 people and has had referrals from 95% of GPs who can refer into the scheme from IslandHealth and Healthcare.

Now Queens Road Medical Practice has also joined the scheme, which is designed to improve people’s health by linking them with community-based support for non-medical needs.

The Health Improvement Commission was recently awarded a grant from the Social Investment Fund to continue Bailiwick Social Prescribing until the end of 2024.

This medium-term security made it possible for it to accommodate Queens Road’s interest in joining.

Following this new partnership, all GPs in Guernsey can refer to the Bailiwick Social Prescribing link workers for support with un-met, non-medical needs such as loneliness, isolation, anxiety, housing needs, financial concerns and changes in circumstance, which can be affecting their health.

Currently the scheme is a pilot and is gathering evidence for its feasibility and impact.

Link worker manager Trish De Carteret was delighted to welcome Queens Road to the scheme.

‘We are looking forward to being able to support more people to overcome barriers affecting their health and wellbeing within the supportive and empowering environment of social prescribing,’ she said.

Dr Piers Mitchell is the Queens Road Medical Practice clinical lead for social prescribing, and highlighted the island-wide benefit of the scheme.

‘People’s health is frequently affected by what is going on in their lives,’ he said.

‘Social, emotional and practical difficulties can result in illness and social prescribing helps to address these using a variety of approaches.’

• People can access Bailiwick Social Prescribing via their GP and via Healthy Minds. More information can be found at https://bsp.org.gg/