Patients welcome social prescribing pilot | News

A social prescribing pilot project launched at Royal Surrey is connecting frequent visitors to the trust with a link worker who can find support and services for them within their local community.

Launched in April, the project offers patients holistic practical, social and emotional support for problems such as loneliness and isolation, which have a significant impact on health and wellbeing.

The project also aims to reduce demand on Emergency Department (ED), other areas of the trust, and acute healthcare and social care teams by identifying and assisting ‘high-intensity’ patients. These are patients who have made six or more visits to ED in a year. It’s also for those who are at risk of becoming a high intensity user by visiting two times in a short time frame. 

Rachel Truelove, Social Prescribing Link Worker for Royal Surrey (pictured above) said: “This pilot looks at patients holistically, beyond their medical reasons, to find out why they are coming in to the trust so often. For example, they may have medical needs but are also coming in because they’re very isolated or have complex social needs affecting their wellbeing.

“The people I’m seeing are a mixture of those with mental health issues, autism, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes and other conditions. One of my clients has diabetic foot ulcers, for example, and has had part of their foot amputated, so I have been helping make their home safer and referring them to agencies who can carry out adaptations to her home.”

Rachel is currently looking after 14 clients, who range in age from 19 to 95 and require complex help to enable them to live well in their own homes and the community.

She added: “I love being able to help people find the support they are entitled to. I had a follow-up call from a client yesterday and she said, ‘thank you, I felt like you really listened to me’. As social prescribers, we are lucky in that we have the luxury of more time to spend with patients and the opportunity to take things at the pace that works for them.”

The service can help patients with getting involved in their local community, weight management, quitting smoking, carer support, benefits support, technology support, loneliness and isolation, finance and debt, employment, bereavement, getting more active and falls prevention.

Hospital staff can refer patients in Guildford, Waverley, West Surrey, East Hampshire, and West Sussex by emailing socialprescribers.guildfordandwaverley@nhs.net.

If you would like to find out more or have any questions, please email Rachel at r.truelove@nhs.net or Ben Standring, Operations Manager at ben.standring@nhs.net.

Lucy’s story 

Lucy was referred to the social prescribing pilot by Royal Surrey’s ED Team. The referral was to explore social activities and volunteering opportunities.

After arranging a face-to-face at a community centre, Rachel chatted to Lucy to find out how she could help. Lucy was keen to learn about exercise options and was signposted to a free swimming group. As Lucy felt quite nervous, Rachel supported her to access the service and arranged the initial meeting with the group facilitator on her behalf. 

After that first visit, Lucy carried on enjoying the free weekly swimming sessions, finding them a rewarding part of her week. She also started attending other suggested social activities, and is still deciding if these are for her. 

After discussions, an onward referral was also made to the Volunteer Connections project. Lucy has since been accepted to volunteer at a community centre, offering support across various activities and groups. Thanking Rachel for the support she’s received, Lucy said: “Honestly, thank you for everything you have done for me.” 

Another exciting bit of news is that Lucy has now been offered employment from her volunteering role.