Rise in Social Prescribing Referrals Among England's General Practitioners

Recent research led by University College London reveals a significant increase in social prescribing activities within England's primary care system. Over 1.3 million individuals were referred to social prescribing services by their general practitioners (GPs) in 2023 alone, surpassing the original NHS target of 900,000 referrals over five years. Since the scheme's inception in 2019, there have been approximately 5.5 million GP consultations involving social prescribing discussions, contributing to a total of 9.4 million such consultations during this period.

Social prescribing connects patients with community-based support to address social determinants of health like loneliness, housing issues, or financial hardship. Usually facilitated by Social Prescribing Link Workers, the scheme offers activities such as exercise, volunteering, arts, counseling, and support with benefits or housing. Introduced as part of NHS policy in 2019, the scheme now employs over 3,300 link workers across England.

The study, published in The Lancet Public Health, analyzed data from over 1.2 million patients and extrapolated findings to all GP practices in the country. It highlights the scheme's rapid growth and wider reach, especially in more deprived communities where referrals increased from 23% before 2019 to 42% in 2023. Additionally, the proportion of referrals from ethnic minority groups now stands at 23%, reflecting the scheme's inclusivity.

Experts emphasize that social prescribing benefits patients’ mental health, long-term condition management, and overall well-being. It also potentially reduces unnecessary GP visits, emergency department attendances, and hospital admissions, offering cost savings for the NHS.

Overall, social prescribing is becoming a vital component of holistic healthcare, fostering stronger links between health services and community resources. The ongoing expansion and data-driven analysis aim to enhance understanding and effectiveness of this approach.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-social-risen-sharply-england-general.html