Social prescribing, sometimes called community referral, is a way of linking patients in primary care with sources of support within the community. It provides GPs and other primary care professionals with a non-medical referral option to improve health and well-being. Social prescribing may be offered alongside existing treatments, or where no medical treatment is indicated and/or to support people whose needs are not being met within existing services. It also provides an opportunity for a stronger focus on the social determinants of health.
This bibliography, produced for colleagues attending the Social Prescribing seminar, in Waterford on 31 March 2017, provides a brief guide to some of the recent research, case studies, evidence of effectiveness and ongoing debates about social prescribing. The focus is on papers published in the last five years.
Download: Social prescribing: a selected bibliography