Social prescribing : a ‘natural’ community-based solution

Howarth, ML; Griffiths, A; da Silva, A; Green, R

Abstract

This paper discusses social prescribing as part of the wider NHS England universal personalised care model, and it describes how community nurses can engage with social prescribing systems to support community resilience. A case study based on the example of gardening, as a nature-based social prescription provided by the RHS Bridgewater Wellbeing Garden, is provided to illustrate the scope, reach and impact of non-medical, salutogenic approaches for community practitioners. The authors argue that social prescribing and, in particular, nature-based solutions, such as gardening, can be used as a non-medical asset-based approach by all health professionals working in the community as a way to promote health and wellbeing. They consider how the negative impact of social distancing resulting from COVID-19 restrictions could be diluted through collaboration between a holistic, social prescribing system and community staff. The paper presents a unique perspective on how community nurses can collaborate with link workers through social prescribing to help combat social isolation and anxiety and support resilience.

Citation

Howarth, M., Griffiths, A., da Silva, A., & Green, R. (2020). Social prescribing : a ‘natural’ community-based solution. British Journal of Community Nursing, 25(6), 294-298. https://doi.org/10.12968/bjcn.2020.25.6.294

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 1, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Jun 4, 2020
• Publication Date: Jun 2, 2020
• Deposit Date: Aug 20, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 4, 2020
• Journal: British Journal of Community Nursing
• Print ISSN: 1462-4753
• Electronic ISSN: 2052-2215
• Publisher: MA Healthcare
• Volume: 25
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 294-298
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.12968/bjcn.2020.25.6.294
• Keywords: Community and Home Care, General Medicine
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.12968/bjcn.2020.25.6.294
• Related Public URLs: https://www.magonlinelibrary.com/loi/bjcn
• Additional Information: Additional Information : ** From Crossref via Jisc Publications Router **Journal IDs: pissn 1462-4753; eissn 2052-2215 **History: issued 02-06-2020; published 02-06-2020; Access Information : This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in British Journal of Community Nursing, copyright © MA Healthcare, after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. To access the final edited and published work see https://doi.org/10.12968/bjcn.2020.25.6.294