What is social prescribing?
Social prescribing is a way of linking patients in primary care with sources of support within the community. It provides GPs with a non-medical referral option that can operate alongside existing treatments to improve health and wellbeing.
What does the service offer?
There are lots of resources and services across Merton that can support people with meeting others, learning new skills, try different activities, make positive lifestyle changes, get out and about and help manage their health better.
The Social Prescribing Service helps people (aged 18 and over) find these opportunities as where to look can sometimes get in peoples way.
Social Prescribing Coordinators
Social Prescribing Coordinators can help link you to local groups and activities, help you make positive lifestyle changes, learn new skills and refer you into community health services and social care if necessary.
Social Prescribing Coordinators can also provide you with information on topics such as employment, training, benefits, housing, legal advice and signpost you to the relevant support available.
The Social Prescriber at The Grand Drive Surgery is Karen Peter.
Accessing the Social Prescribing Service
The appointment is at your GP surgery and can last up to 1 hour
You can have up to two further follow up appointments to chat about how things are improving for you
You may be asked to complete a Wellbeing Tool during your appointment(s), this is just so we can make sure we have covered everything and to measure your progress
If you are registered to a Merton GP practice, you can ask your GP on how to be referred to the Social Prescribing Service.
Alternatively, visit the Merton Connected website here for more information on which practices are currently running the service and more about what we can do to help.
Please click here to download an information leaflet for further information.
