THE chair of Thurrock's Clinical Commissioning Group has welcomed the introduction of 'Social Prescribing Link Workers' to GPs' surgeries across the borough, saying they will not only offer direct help to those in need with problems related to loneliness, anxiety, unemployment, and bereavement, but will free up doctors to spend more time with people with complex health needs.

Dr Anil Kallil says: "The role isn't just about sign posting people to services it is about ensuring people get the right support from relevant community resources.

"Through personalised support, Social Prescribing Link Workers can help people who don't necessarily require clinical treatment, by referring them to community groups and voluntary organisations running a range of activities from benefits advice, singing and cooking classes, to sports activities, gardening and housing help.

"This will help ease pressure on GPs to make more time available for patients with more complex health needs".

Social Prescribing Link Workers, also known as a Social Prescribers, are currently in place at many local surgeries and more will be rolled out across the borough in the near future.

A statement from the Clincial Commissioning group says: "They work in partnership with the voluntary sector to help people to access appropriate support in the community to help them make positive changes to their personal well-being.

"Social prescribing is targeted at a range of people, including those who are socially isolated and those with long term physical and/or mental health conditions. People will be encouraged to take control of their health and well-being through referral to non-medical 'link workers' who will focus on their health and well-being needs and prescribe individual solutions to support them to take back control.

"Emerging evidence suggests that social prescribing can improve people's health and wellbeing and reduce workload for healthcare professionals and demand for secondary care services.

"Often people's social situation can lead to depression and other health problems, which takes them to the GP for medical help, but sorting out the personal problems and empowering people to take back control often results in a reduction of medicines and less need for a GP's help."

The service has already had an impact. Annette Christmas, who benefited from a social prescription said: "I found the social prescriber very assuring and surprisingly helpful. The appointment was wonderfully friendly and everything was explained."

And Phillip Aitchison said: "I was feeling very down about my situation, the GP referred me to a social prescriber, I didn't know about this service when they booked it for me at the surgery but it's been brilliant. They empowered me to see what was out there to support me and get the help I needed."