Changing the conversation about health

socialprescribing

World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week: Access the TARGET toolkit
World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week: Access the TARGET toolkit

World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week: Access the TARGET toolkit

The third week in November marks World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week, a global annual campaign to improve awareness and understanding of Antimicrobial Resistance amongst patients and healthcare professionals. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared AMR one of the…

Barnardo’s urges government to invest in social prescribing to help mental health of young people
Barnardo’s urges government to invest in social prescribing to help mental health of young people

Barnardo’s urges government to invest in social prescribing to help mental health of young people

Social prescribing could help young people suffering with mental health problems, new research says. Children’s charity Barnardo’s says referrals for non-clinical treatments could help to ease current pressure on child and adolescent mental health services (Camhs) and help young patients…

RCGP Chair says social prescribing could offer ‘vital lifeline’ to vulnerable, after survey finds GPs are prescribing nappies to patients in poverty
RCGP Chair says social prescribing could offer ‘vital lifeline’ to vulnerable, after survey finds GPs are prescribing nappies to patients in poverty

RCGP Chair says social prescribing could offer ‘vital lifeline’ to vulnerable, after survey finds GPs are prescribing nappies to patients in poverty

Doctors in the UK are increasingly being asked to ‘prescribe’ basic welfare items such as shampoo and nappies by patients living in poverty, a new survey by the Royal College of General Practitioners has found. The Times reported that the…

Nine holes for health? Social prescribing pilot offering free golf proves a big hit in Scotland
Nine holes for health? Social prescribing pilot offering free golf proves a big hit in Scotland

Nine holes for health? Social prescribing pilot offering free golf proves a big hit in Scotland

Social prescribing comes in many forms, as a pilot scheme offering games of golf to help boost health and wellbeing has proved. The Golf for Health pilot took place recently in Fife, Scotland and saw patients with varying health conditions…

‘Dismissive attitudes’ towards ME must improve, say DofH, as it launches new plan to overhaul care
‘Dismissive attitudes’ towards ME must improve, say DofH, as it launches new plan to overhaul care

‘Dismissive attitudes’ towards ME must improve, say DofH, as it launches new plan to overhaul care

NHS healthcare professionals are to get more training to improve the treatment of patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), as part of a new government strategy. The Department of Health’s interim plan, writes The Times, will see medical students, nurses and…

The six questions you should ask your GP: Read Professor Sir Muir Gray’s advice
The six questions you should ask your GP: Read Professor Sir Muir Gray’s advice

The six questions you should ask your GP: Read Professor Sir Muir Gray’s advice

Professor Sir Muir Gray, who’s on The College of Medicine’s Scientific Advisory Council, has revealed his advice on what patients should be asking their doctors to make the most of a short appointment time.   Sir Muir, who is a…

Chair’s newsletter: What’s ahead for The College of Medicine?
Chair’s newsletter: What’s ahead for The College of Medicine?

Chair’s newsletter: What’s ahead for The College of Medicine?

Dr Michael Dixon, The College of Medicine Chair, reveals a busy summer calendar in his latest address… “Our cold spring is struggling to get to summer but we can look forward to warmer days with the Coronation of our Patron,…

Professor Sir Sam Everington urges Government to ‘put nurses in schools’, in RSA article
Professor Sir Sam Everington urges Government to ‘put nurses in schools’, in RSA article

Professor Sir Sam Everington urges Government to ‘put nurses in schools’, in RSA article

The College of Medicine’s Deputy Chair, Professor Sir Sam Everington, has called for every school to have access to a qualified nurse, in a passionate article for the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) magazine. Sir Sam, who is a GP…

‘Social Prescribing can change lives – and the Government is backing it with money’, says Health Secretary
‘Social Prescribing can change lives – and the Government is backing it with money’, says Health Secretary

‘Social Prescribing can change lives – and the Government is backing it with money’, says Health Secretary

The UK minister for Health and Social Care, Steve Barclay, has said the Government is committed to Social Prescribing, following last week’s Social Prescribing Day, saying funding of £3.6million will be poured into it over the next two years. Writing…

EXCLUSIVE: NHS Prescribing Director Professor Tony Avery on why unnecessary prescribing must stop – for the sake of both patients and our healthcare system
EXCLUSIVE: NHS Prescribing Director Professor Tony Avery on why unnecessary prescribing must stop – for the sake of both patients and our healthcare system

EXCLUSIVE: NHS Prescribing Director Professor Tony Avery on why unnecessary prescribing must stop – for the sake of both patients and our healthcare system

To mark Social Prescribing Day 2023, Professor Tony Avery OBE, GP and National Clinical Director for Prescribing at NHS England, writes for The College of Medicine on the system approaches needed to optimise medicines to better care for people living…

‘NHS launches healthcare revolution to ditch drugs’: Beyond Pills Campaign features in The Sunday Express
‘NHS launches healthcare revolution to ditch drugs’: Beyond Pills Campaign features in The Sunday Express

‘NHS launches healthcare revolution to ditch drugs’: Beyond Pills Campaign features in The Sunday Express

Social prescribing and The College of Medicine’s Beyond Pills Campaign made the headlines this weekend, with a detailed article in The Sunday Express highlighting our call for urgent reform on unnecessary prescribing within the current healthcare system. The article, written…

Beyond Pills Campaign: BMJ article examines how use of medicine for treating chronic pain is changing
Beyond Pills Campaign: BMJ article examines how use of medicine for treating chronic pain is changing

Beyond Pills Campaign: BMJ article examines how use of medicine for treating chronic pain is changing

An article in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) this month debates how recent research on the treatment of chronic pain suggests social prescribing – including exercise and psychological and social support – could have a positive impact for patients living…

Beyond Pills Campaign: The UK football clubs using the power of sport to help fans with mental health problems
Beyond Pills Campaign: The UK football clubs using the power of sport to help fans with mental health problems

Beyond Pills Campaign: The UK football clubs using the power of sport to help fans with mental health problems

If ever the phrase ‘It’s not the winning, it’s the taking part that counts’ was applicable, then it’s in the growing arena of football teams for mental health. In the last decade, new clubs dedicated to helping those who love…

The College of Medicine reflects on our achievements in 2022 – and looks to 2023
The College of Medicine reflects on our achievements in 2022 – and looks to 2023

The College of Medicine reflects on our achievements in 2022 – and looks to 2023

As we welcome a new year, our Chair, Dr Michael Dixon, looks back at what The College of Medicine has achieved in the last 12 months, and what the year ahead looks like for our organisation… ‘2022 was a mix…

New research suggests staying trim in middle age and later life prevents Type 2 diabetes
New research suggests staying trim in middle age and later life prevents Type 2 diabetes

New research suggests staying trim in middle age and later life prevents Type 2 diabetes

A new study into the link between obesity and diabetes has suggested that everyone has a ‘personal fat threshold’ and staying on the right side of it could help stave off a Type 2 diabetes diagnosis. The research, carried out…

Overprescribing must stop, says new Government report
Overprescribing must stop, says new Government report

Overprescribing must stop, says new Government report

The College of Medicine’s Chair has welcomed plans by the Government to reduce the overprescribing of medicines. A report published this week announced action to prevent medicines being prescribed unnecessarily, following a new review led by the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer…

Employers encouraged to offer yoga and meditation to help improve mental health in the workforce
Employers encouraged to offer yoga and meditation to help improve mental health in the workforce

Employers encouraged to offer yoga and meditation to help improve mental health in the workforce

Public Health England and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is urging employers to introduce a raft of new measures to help improve the mental health of their workers. Yoga and meditation sessions, more flexible working hours and…

Superfied founder tells The College of Medicine how his own health issue pushed him to create the new self-care platform
Superfied founder tells The College of Medicine how his own health issue pushed him to create the new self-care platform

Superfied founder tells The College of Medicine how his own health issue pushed him to create the new self-care platform

After a successful 25-year career in marketing, College of Medicine member Sandy Purewal, 50, (pictured) founded self-care platform Superfied earlier this year. The concept – empowering people to take better care of their own health via better food – was…

Harmony in living and dying: College of Medicine hosts HILDA event – including a cookery demonstration
Harmony in living and dying: College of Medicine hosts HILDA event – including a cookery demonstration

Harmony in living and dying: College of Medicine hosts HILDA event – including a cookery demonstration

The College of Medicine hosted an online evening in late March, which discussed talking about finding harmony in living and dying with the HILDA project – with nutrition and integrative health cook Toral Shah offering a culinary demonstration. The workshop,…

Listen, support, connect: How we marked International Social Prescribing Day 2021
Listen, support, connect: How we marked International Social Prescribing Day 2021

Listen, support, connect: How we marked International Social Prescribing Day 2021

A vital event in the College of Medicine’s annual calendar, Social Prescribing Day, which took place this year on March 18th, aims to celebrate the social prescribing movement by highlighting stories of progress, the importance of community and, this year,…

‘Link workers are bringers of hope’: Social prescribing features on BBC One’s Countryfile
‘Link workers are bringers of hope’: Social prescribing features on BBC One’s Countryfile

‘Link workers are bringers of hope’: Social prescribing features on BBC One’s Countryfile

Social Prescribing featured on BBC One’s Countryfile this weekend, with presenter Anita Rani meeting Dr Marie Polley to discuss finding solutions to problems without medical intervention. Anita joined Dr Polley, who is co-Chair of the Social Prescribing Network, to discuss…

Hope for the Future: what do College members aspire for in healthcare in 2021?
Hope for the Future: what do College members aspire for in healthcare in 2021?

Hope for the Future: what do College members aspire for in healthcare in 2021?

A new year is upon us, and despite the extraordinary challenges that we’ve faced in 2020, we remain hugely optimistic for the year ahead. To mark the dawn of 2021, the College asked our friends and members – many of…

Fighting for the arts in a pandemic: ENO Chair says directors doubled up as ‘covid marshalls’ to get La Bohème back on the stage
Fighting for the arts in a pandemic: ENO Chair says directors doubled up as ‘covid marshalls’ to get La Bohème back on the stage

Fighting for the arts in a pandemic: ENO Chair says directors doubled up as ‘covid marshalls’ to get La Bohème back on the stage

English National Opera Chairman Dr Harry Brunjes, vice-president of the College of Medicine, reflects on the ENO’s first socially-distanced production… In the theatre world it certainly has been ‘the season of darkness’ with a predicted ‘winter of despair’, but hopefully…

Brushing your teeth properly reduces risk of oral cancer, scientists say
Brushing your teeth properly reduces risk of oral cancer, scientists say

Brushing your teeth properly reduces risk of oral cancer, scientists say

Brushing your teeth thoroughly could help to prevent oral cancer, new research finds. Scientists at the University of California found that the bacteria that builds up around teeth when regular brushing is absent was responsible for pathogens that enhanced tumour…