Here is the latest social prescribing newsletter from our colleagues at the University of Westminster. 

 
Dear Friends,

Here is the August edition of the Social Prescribing Newsletter.  If you have anything you want to share in upcoming newsletters, please send it to socialprescribing@outlook.com. We have started archiving past newsletters on our website, so if you are new and want to catch up on the last few months of Social Prescribing news, well now you can.

We hope you are enjoying the sunshine!
Marie Polley, Co-Chair Social Prescribing Network

Regional Networks update

Social Prescribing for London

09.00-16.30 on Thursday 22 September 2016
Venue: Etc.venues Victoria, One Drummond Gate, London. SW1V 2QQ

 

You are invited to take part in an event organised by the Healthy London Partnership (HLP) with the Social Prescribing Network and University of East London to inform London stakeholders about the potential of Social Prescribing and how to support its local implementation and success.

People are living longer and as they get older, developing long term health conditions. Their health is affected by a wide range of factors including employment, housing, debt, social isolation and culture. These factors are not amenable to traditional health interventions. The NHS England 5 Year Forward View calls for a radical upgrade in prevention and public health, and greater engagement with people and communities to harness the energy and potential they have.  Social prescribing presents the NHS and local authorities with an opportunity to do this. It helps people to make use of existing community services, resources and facilities which can help them manage or overcome these social factors. Social prescribing can help to improve the health of local people, the quality of care and services, and productivity as part of Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STPs).

 

Why attend?

This event will include presentations and inspiration from people who will share their experience of setting up and delivering social prescribing schemes, and workshops examining it in more detail. It will provide lots of opportunities to discuss the range of challenges which will face commissioners, providers and communities and how to overcome them. The event will also showcase the latest return on Investment data modelled on London’s population to inform STP planning and implementation.

Finally, there will be an opportunity to influence the design and content of guidance being developed by the Healthy London Partnership’s Personalisation & Self-Care programme and the Social Prescribing Network at this event. The day will also discuss what other support London needs, and whether there should be a London regional Social Prescribing Network.

Early registration recommended. You can use either ticket type to book your place.

 

Further information is available from Brendan McLoughlan by emailing brendanmcloughlin@nhs.net or calling 07721 670863.

 

 

Evaluation findings from the NHS Leeds West Patient Empowerment project

Sue Wilkinson of the NHS Leeds West Clinical Commissioning Group wanted to bring to members’ attention the publication of their evaluation findings from the end of their first year of a Patient Empowerment Project. Amongst other things, their report includes self-report data from various measures of well-being, medical service attendance and case studies. A copy of the full report can be downloaded here.

Integrated Care summit featuring a session on Social Prescribing

Ben May at The King’s Fund wanted to share information about an upcoming event they are running which may be of interest to the network membership. Dr Michael Dixon is chairing a session on Social Prescribing at the Integrated Care Summit in October. In addition to Dr Dixon, the session features two great examples from Halton and City and Hackney CCG’s who are sharing their experiences in this area.

 

Article on Hope Farm Medical Centre’s approach to Social Prescribing

One of our members, Wilma Bol, would like to bring to members’ attention an article from Hope Farm Medical Centre which discusses their approach to Social Prescribing. In the article Hope Farm Medical Centre PM Tim Goldsbrough discusses the practice’s approach to social prescribing and supporting carers, as well as reflecting on the many recent changes in primary care and considering what the future holds for general practice. It can be accessed here.

 

Elemental launch Social Prescription software

Last year Jennifer Neff and Leeann Monk gave up their jobs in Community Development and Regeneration to focus on developing a digital solution to enable the delivery and measurement of the Social Prescribing model of health care. After 16 months of intensive R&D they are about to unveil the result.

Jennifer and Leeann engaged health improvement stakeholders in developing a social prescription platform to connect those involved in reducing health risks. They built a prototype and with the help of TechStart NI ‘Proof of Concept’ funding, they tested it in one of the most socially deprived areas of Northern Ireland.

Their Social Prescribing software will be launched at the NHS Health and Care Innovation Expo in Manchester on 7th and 8th of September. Elemental Software are one of twelve finalists in INVENT 2016, which is seeking out the latest world changing inventions. The outcome of which will be announced at the end of September.

Email mailto:info@elementalsoftware.co to book a demo at Expo.

Check out www.elementalsoftware.co to read more about the software capabilities.