Social Prescribing: Initiatives on the Island of Ireland

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. Recognising that people’s health is determined primarily by a range of social, economic and environmental factors, social prescribing seeks to address people’s needs in a holistic way. It also aims to support individuals to take greater control of their own health.

The Mid and East Antrim AgeWell Partnership employs a community development approach in improving the health and well being of older people. Project co-ordinator, Deirdre McCloskey, will speak with us about the IMPACTAgewell® program that aims to improve quality of life for older people by connecting them to their community. It goes beyond the traditional signposting model, instead building in a funding stream to actually invest in the community-based, often volunteer-led, organisations which deliver these services (commonly referred to as ‘social prescriptions’) such as befriending, transport, luncheon clubs and handyperson services.