Evidence The economic impact of social prescribing

March 2022

The National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP) commissioned its Academic Partners to review and summarise the evidence on the economic impact of social prescribing, including value for money, cost-effectiveness and social return on investment.

 

• The evidence suggests that social prescribing can reduce pressure on primary care and save costs
• The evidence about impact on secondary care was inconclusive, although some studies reported a reduction in primary care use
• The evidence demonstrated a favourable social return on investment (SROI) in most cases where a range of outcomes and costs were considered