Social Prescribers at Thornbury Medical Centre:

Sundas Ali and Nick Toehill

WHAT IS SOCIAL PRESCRIBING?

Many things affect your health and wellbeing. A lot of people visit the GP as they are feeling isolated or lonely or they might be stressed out by work, money and housing problems. Sometimes it’s the stress of managing different long-term conditions.

That’s where social prescribing comes in. It starts with a conversation. It might be the conversation you’ve just had with your doctor or with another person in the practice team. They will refer you to a social prescriber.

The social prescriber is there to listen to you and put you in touch with the people and activities that might help you to feel better.

Your social prescriber might introduce you to a community group, a new activity or a local club. Or they might help you find legal advice or debt counselling. They might just help you find information and guidance: a bit of inside knowledge on your situation or what local resources there are. They could even support you to create something new such as a gardening club, a fishing group, a ‘men’s shed’ or knit and knatter group.

Social prescribing can help you to have more control over your own health and find ways to improve how you feel in a way that suits you.

Our allocated social prescribers are available on a Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. If you would like an appointment with one of them, please call the surgery on 01274 662441.