North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has today called on the Welsh Government to ensure that social prescribing is better directed across Wales.
Speaking in an Assembly Debate on Social Prescribing, Mr Isherwood said the King’s Fund definition of social prescribing states that “social prescribing, sometimes referred to as community referral, is a means of enabling GPs, nurses and other primary care professionals to refer people to a range of local, non-clinical services”.
He said:
“As they say “Social prescribing is designed to support people with a wide range of social, emotional or practical needs, and many schemes are focussed on improving mental health and physical well-being”.
“This can involve a variety of activities which are typically provided by voluntary and community sector organisations. Examples include volunteering, arts activities, group learning, gardening, befriending, cookery, healthy eating advice and a range of sports – involving a link worker who works with people to access local sources of support”. .
He added:
“Social Prescribing is a core element of the Co-production revolution and the fact that the Welsh Government has tabled this debate shows that we have come a long way since I first led an Assembly Debate on Co-production, to a lukewarm response.
“This is about moving from the ‘medical model’ – which sees illness or disability as ‘the problem’ – to the Social Model of Disability and the right to Independent Living, emphasising that people are disabled by society not themselves, that we must work together to tackle the barriers to access and inclusion for all and that everyone must be allowed independence, choice and control in their lives.”
“However, many of the resources available are not directed at what matters most to people, where they need it to improve their own health and wellbeing”.
Mr Isherwood referred to Cartrefi Conwy who he said “run several projects empowering and enabling older tenants to take control of their lives, not letting their age, or anything else affect them, their independence or quality of life.”
He added: “Volunteer run walking schemes supported by ‘Lets Walk Cymru’, such as ‘Troedio Clwyd Walks’, improve physical and mental wellbeing, and tackle loneliness, saving NHS Wales money, but Welsh Government funding ends on the 30th September, providing no assurance for the volunteers. The Welsh Government must provide continuity.
“After all, as the Chief Medical Officer for Wales states, “the Social Prescribing Approach can help the management of chronic conditions and decrease demand for health services”.
ENDS