Manchester leads the way in green social prescribing
Featured Image: Kate Dening
Lonely and isolated people in Manchester are being referred to green social prescribing programmes as part of the NHS’s push for a personalised care approach.
Green social prescribing programmes intend to encourage individuals to participate in nature-based activities, with the hope that this will enhance their overall health and wellbeing.
The NHS acknowledges that individuals with long-term conditions or mental health challenges, particularly those experiencing isolation, can significantly benefit from support focused on their social and emotional needs.
The Lancashire Wildlife Trust is one of the first places in England to introduce green social prescribing programmes.
Kirsty Tyler says: “It’s always about giving back to nature, and giving back to the world around us.”
The Lancashire Wildlife Trust is amongst several different types of programmes that a social prescriber may refer a patient to.
Kirsty Tyler said: “I’ve spoken to some people in these programmes who said that these sessions made their brains much easier places to be in.
“There is a couple who come along to our sessions who isolated for years because of COVID. Even though they are still shielding because they have such complex needs, they feel safe enough to join our sessions because they are outside. They’ve got that community now.”
The National Academy for Social Prescribing’s “nature briefing” found evidence to confirm that nature-based social prescribing can enhance happiness and well-being while helping to reduce social isolation.
Every person in England can access social prescribing
The NHS has promised that every person in England can access a social prescribing service through their GP practice, with a goal of 900,000 people to be referred to these services by 2023/24.
These services are not intended to be a step away from generic medicine, but rather an additional approach to supporting people’s health and wellbeing.
Jon Myint, programme manager in Greater Manchester’s Population Health directorate, develops infrastructure for green social prescribing by supporting organisations and raising workforce awareness.
When asked why he felt that there had been a push towards social prescribing, he said: “This is likely due to a combination of factors, including the need to address health inequalities.
“In today’s age of technology and social media, I think that as a society we are losing our connection to nature and so people want to reconnect with it.”
Jon is a leader in the Greater Manchester’s Nature for Health programme, which has supported over 1400 people onto a green programme through a network of various organisations.
He says patients in his programmes often report feeling less reliant on medication and more socially connected.
Health inequalities
The initiative represents the largest investment in social prescribing by any national health system.
The NHS recognises that many of our society’s health issues arise from lifestyle choices and barriers created by health inequalities, and that social prescribing can encourage healthier lifestyles which reduce these disparities.
Genna Spiteri, a wellbeing coach for young people at Be Well, a service accessible through social prescribing in Manchester, believes that the programmes can be more important than medicine.
She said: “Often clients are prescribed anti-depressant medication for factors that are circumstantial and what they actually need is support in finding a network and social connections.”
A 2024 report from NatureMind summarises the opinions of top practitioners, policymakers and commissioners on the current successes and barriers to green social prescribing.
Leading practitioners have stressed that their patients’ results demonstrate the effectiveness of these programmes and urge for further investment to scale up green social prescribing.
Genna stated: “Approximately 90% of my patients finish the full programme and make meaningful changes to their lives.”
The future of medicine
Arun Summerfield, a medical student at the University of Manchester, explained: “Social prescribing has a big role in future healthcare.
“Increased rates of mental health problems and alcohol and drug abuse all show us that something has to change in the delivery of healthcare”.
Arun explained that, as a medical student, there is little focus on teaching the benefits of art, social connection, and engagement with nature.
He claimed: “If we can help people optimise their health and wellbeing outside a medical setting, then social prescribing should be at the forefront of future care.”
With the growing number of patients benefiting from green social prescribing programs in Manchester, the outlook remains promising.
The unwavering dedication of those behind these initiatives is evident in the transformative impact they continue to have on individuals and communities alike.
With the arrival of a new year, increased investment and research into these programs will be crucial to scaling up green social prescribing and ensuring its integral role in the future of healthcare.