To inform the development of the National Academy for Social Prescribing's (NASP) new strategy, we commissioned the Patients Association to engage with patients. NASP developed questions that would help to understand what was and wasn’t working for patients, and what some of the opportunities might be for social prescribing.
- Survey with over 100 people who are currently receiving, or have previously received social prescribing
- Online focus group with ten people from across England and Scotland
Survey
Over 100 people currently receiving, or who have previously received social prescribing, responded to a survey to understand their experiences; what difference social prescribing had made, what had the most impact and what needs improving.
What difference Social Prescribing made
The most reported benefit was improved access to support and services, identified by 53% of respondents. This reflects one of the core aims of social prescribing: helping people find and access the support that is available within their communities. Improved mental wellbeing was also one of the most commonly reported outcomes, with half of respondents (50%) saying social prescribing had made a positive difference in this area. The findings show that the impact extended beyond access to community activities, with many respondents describing improvements in their wellbeing, confidence and social connections.
What had the most impact
Patients were asked to rank what had led to the most positive impact for them. The highest ranked area was ‘support from the Social Prescribing Link Worker’ followed by ‘the type of activity or support (such as arts, physical activity, information/advice)’. The relationship patients developed with their link worker was key to how they viewed their experience, with a positive relationship helping them feel comfortable discussing their concerns and confident that their individual circumstances were understood.
Moreover, 57% of people continued attending activities after support finished, showing the sustainable change it can make in people’s lives.
What needs improving
When asked which area they felt most needed improving, the most common response was increasing public awareness, followed by increasing the activities/services available and allowing Social Prescribing Link Workers more time to support people.
More than two-thirds of respondents (68%) said they had not heard of social prescribing before they were referred, while only 30% were already aware of it. Overall, the findings show that poorer experiences were often shaped by a combination of communication, environmental factors (i.e. the availability of suitable services) and wider personal circumstances.
Focus groups
Ten people from across England and Scotland took part in a 2.5 hour online focus group. The discussion explored four areas: the barriers people may face in accessing community support; how challenges in connecting with community activities could be overcome; the qualities and skills people would expect from link workers; and what people would need to understand and trust about social prescribing before referral.
The barriers people may face in accessing community support and how they can be overcome
Even when people are aware of what is available, there can be practical and physical barriers to taking part, alongside emotional, social and confidence-related barriers to joining a new activity. Focus group participants emphasised the importance of providing clear information and ensuring that people receive the right support for their individual circumstances.
What they would want social prescribing to look like
Participants saw significant potential in social prescribing, but emphasised that its success depends on more than simply connecting people with an activity. They felt it needs to be accessible, personalised and well connected to the wider health, care and community system, with people supported to make choices that reflect what matters to them and the circumstances of their lives.
Recommendations
Both reports recommend protecting the relationship between patients and link workers, highlighting the importance of holistic, person-centred support, increasing awareness and understanding of social prescribing, so that it is more visible and easier to understand, and working with partners to increase availability, diversity and accessibility of community activities recognising that an effective social prescribing ecosystem requires a sustainable, accessible and diverse community sector.
Next steps
The research findings emphasise just how much social prescribing has benefitted people who have had this support as well as the opportunity to make it a sustainable part of health care. We will be using the learnings to inform our work - continuing to drive for improvements in the patient experience and social prescribing policy and practice.
