Social Prescribing

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services – in the Senedd at 2:12 pm on 11 May 2022.

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Photo of Lynne Neagle Lynne Neagle Labour 2:12, 11 May 2022

Thank you very much, Heledd, for that supplementary. As you've highlighted, social prescribing is a really good way of linking people to community-based, non-clinical support, and that needs to be a holistic approach that recognises that people's health is determined by a range of social, economic and environmental factors, and as you've highlighted, that's not just about tackling loneliness. So, as part of the framework that we are developing, we are looking to set out what an accepted Welsh model of social prescribing would look like, but won't be dictating how it is delivered in different communities. And the task and finish group on social prescribing, which I chair, is working with primary care, health boards, the third sector, and, I'm pleased to say, cultural and sporting sectors, to develop that national framework, and that will include, then, an agreed model of social prescribing for Wales and identify several core themes where we in Welsh Government and our partners can take action to support its implementation. But just to be really clear, I don't think that that framework should dictate how that looks in different communities, because all communities are different, and it will be about drawing on the strengths and the needs of particular communities, but making sure that there is a consistently good offer throughout Wales.