However, the process usually involves screening for non-medical needs and referrals to support services that are typically offered by community-based organizations.
[4] The goals of social prescribing are to reduce the rise of healthcare costs and easing pressure of general practice clinics.
A 2016 review in The BMJ concluded that further, more robust testing was needed to determine how effective it was, noting that evidence in favour of social prescription came from small trials that were open to a range of biases.
But for this to happen, link workers need the resources to develop extensive knowledge of local organisations and services.
[9][10] In the London borough of Merton, a review found that in ‘pre COVID’ times social prescribing reduced patients’ GP appointments by 33% and Accident and Emergency (A&E) attendances by 50%.
The provider, Together Co,[16] has been held up as an example of good practice for its provision of social prescribing and for running a link worker network in the city so that staff at a range of organisations can benefit from ongoing learning and development.
These services are being established in the local government areas of Frankston, Latrobe and Benalla-Wangaratta-Mansfield, Brimbank, Geelong-Queenscliffe and Whittlesea.
[27] There is also a National Association of Link Workers, which aims to support social prescribing staff, to lobby for improvements, and to provide guidance and continuing professional development to members.