Social Prescribing in Northamptonshire

Spring is set up to support people into non-medical interventions and can support people into a more independent, healthier lifestyle. The aim is to teach them to make healthier choices and have more autonomy over their health and life choices.

To date, Spring have supported over 2,000 Northamptonshire residents to live well and keep living well. They currently receive referrals from GP Surgeries and have worked with PCNs on their health inequalities plans to plan targeted interventions. Perhaps there are people attending your Pharmacy where  wider issues come to light that may not be health related.

Spring use the Wellbeing Star to track progress and these cover areas such as looking after yourself, managing symptoms of LTCs, lifestyle, work and volunteering, activities, money, where you live, friends and family and feeling positive. They will spend time getting to know the individual, what matters to them and see how they can set an action plan to help them achieve their goals.

Here is the website for signposting purposes Home | Spring (springnorthamptonshire.org) and includes a little video about social prescribing and a couple of case studies.  Spring do have eligibility criteria which is that they must be resident in Northants, over 18 and have a physical LTC that impacts their daily life in some way. They are particularly interested in working with Wellingborough pharmacists as we know the burden of disease is high in that area and they currently have few established referral pathways for their residents. If anyone is interested in holding some leaflets/posters for us there, please do let Spring know, but the same goes for any pharmacies in Northants. Spring are also happy to meet with Pharmacies and talk to them individually about the work. Please contact gemma.lovegrove@bridgesoutcomes.org