NASP responds to NHS reform that promises more personalised care
Prof Dame Helen Stokes-Lampard, Chair of the National Academy for Social Prescribing, reacts to a vision for the NHS which would see four million people access personalised care by 2024
Sajid Javid, the Health and Social Care Secretary, has set out his vision for long-term NHS reform, including an expansion of personalised care. He announced an ambition that four million people would be able to access personalised care by 2024, covering everything from social prescribing to support plans.
“We welcome the Secretary of State’s commitment to expanding the NHS investment in social prescribing in today’s speech. There are a wide range of factors that affect our health and wellbeing beyond the traditional biomedical model – including issues as diverse as isolation and loneliness, problems with housing and personal finances – and it’s crucial that when these are identified by NHS staff, they are then able to connect people to relevant and appropriate support in local communities.
Social prescribing is fundamentally based on each individual’s unique circumstances, so it can help tackle the barriers that they face to achieving better health and wellbeing. That’s why it needs to play an increasingly important role in supporting the health and care system by providing additional options to people over the coming years.”
Find out more about social prescribing.
