The impact of social prescribing on health service use and costs: Examples of local evaluations in practice

This report from the National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP) in the UK summarises the analysis of social prescribing evaluation data from nine local health systems across England.

Social prescribing in the NHS typically involves a trained Link Worker helping patients to develop a personalised plan to improve their health and wellbeing, and connecting them to local groups and services that can help. This is based on what matters to each patient, and usually involves addressing underlying social factors, including loneliness, isolation or problems with debt or housing.

The report’s findings indicate that social prescribing can substantially reduce pressure on the NHS, including through reduced GP appointments, reduced hospital admissions and reduced A&E visits.

Social prescribing can also have a positive economic impact. In Newcastle, secondary care costs in 2019-20 were 9% lower than a matched-control group where social prescribing was not available. In Rotherham, a pre and post analysis on frequent users reported a reduction in costs of up to 39% for A&E attendances.

Access the Report