Social Prescribing
What is social prescribing?
Social prescribing is a means of connecting patients to a range of non-clinical services in the community to improve their health and wellbeing. It was included as part of the NHS Long Term Plan for England in 2019, recognising the vital role it can play in improving health and wellbeing nationwide.
For some people, social prescribing provides an alternative to medication. For others, it works alongside it. Either way, it helps tackle the root causes of many health and wellbeing issues , allowing for more holistic, person-centred care, and empowering people to take an active role in their own health. Evidence shows it can reduce the need for GP appointments and medical prescriptions, helping to ease pressure on Manx Care.
It is estimated that almost a fifth of GP appointment time is spent on non-medical problems (NASP, 2025) including loneliness, isolation, relationship difficulties, or stress related to money or housing. Social prescribing gives doctors, organisations, and other professionals a practical and compassionate way to address these issues more effectively.
Social prescribing — the evidence
A nationwide evaluation of social prescribing outcomes, based on more than 19,000 patients, demonstrated "consistent and sizeable improvements across different wellbeing domains in the 1–6 months following initial referral to social prescribing". The authors estimated a return of £9 for each £1 invested, based on improvements in life satisfaction.
An evaluation of the cross-Government Green Social Prescribing programme also showed statistically significant improvements in wellbeing, and reductions in anxiety and depression. It demonstrated that nature-based social prescribing programmes are effective, accessible and cost-efficient compared to other interventions available through the NHS.
Other research has shown the economic benefits of social prescribing, as well as potential gains in Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALYs).
Many other studies have shown that social prescribing is associated with a range of positive outcomes for patients. There is also a strong evidence base for many of the activities that people may be connected to — including physical activity, nature-based activities, creative health approaches and heritage projects.
There is also a growing body of evidence to show how social prescribing can support people living with a range of long-term conditions.
Social Prescribing Toolkit
