On Social Prescribing Day 2025 (19th March), Professor Sir Michael Marmot, together with the National Academy for Social Prescribing, convened national health, community and faith leaders to explore the next steps for social prescribing in the NHS and beyond.
Professor Marmot, the world’s leading expert in health inequalities, recognised the difference that social prescribing has made to the lives of patients, communities and the health system. He said that it could play an important part in trying to “create a society with hope for the future; for our young people, older people, for everyone”.
NASP CEO Charlotte Osborn-Forde with Professor Sir Michael Marmot
In a pre-recorded introductory message, Stephen Kinnock MP, the Minister of State for Care, thanked Link Workers and everyone involved in social prescribing and noted the evidence for effectiveness and the powerful impact on communities.
Leaders including the Chief Executives of Natural England, Royal College of General Practice, Historic England, Local Trust, National Voices, PPL and the Lloyds Bank Foundation then discussed what had been achieved and ideas for the future, alongside academic experts, clinicians, Link Worker representatives and the Bishop of London.
The attendees recognised the progress that has been made since social prescribing was rolled out nationally in 2019 helping the NHS to extend its reach into deprived communities, improve health outcomes for patients and their experience of the health service, and reduce avoidable demand on the health service.
They heard from a practicing Link Worker about the value of taking a creative, holistic approach to health and wellbeing and how social prescribing encourages agency and builds confidence especially for people with more complex needs.
Participants also discussed:
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The need for greater and more strategic investment into voluntary and community organisations delivering activities and services.
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The importance of recognising that social prescribing goes beyond the role of Link Workers in primary care, and that it can scaled up in other parts of health and voluntary sector workforce, as well as more widely in communities, taking a bottom-up approach.
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The need for a national improvement offer to support learning and development
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The progress made in other parts of the world, with 40 countries now engaged and the huge amount that can be learned from this.
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The potential offered by improving data and utilising technology and AI
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The value in engaging a wider range of sectors including employers, business and education.
NASP will use the discussions to develop its plans for the coming year and to help inform the future of social prescribing in the NHS and beyond.
Hear from Professor Sir Michael Marmot
