Exploring the impact of social prescribing on health and wellbeing: multiple perspectives within a locality experiencing poverty and socio-economic de

"Persistent health inequalities mean that the burden of long-term health conditions and multi morbidity falls disproportionately on those in lower socioeconomic groups. Established health care models have historically offered little to tackle socioeconomic determinants of health. Increasingly, social prescribing is used to bridge the gap between health care and social support. It allows health professionals to link individuals to non-clinical services that help them manage their health conditions. The evidence base for social prescribing remains small and further research is needed.
Ways to Wellness (WtW) is a large-scale social prescribing initiative operating in a socioeconomically deprived area of Newcastle Upon Tyne. It is funded for seven years and provides an un-paralleled opportunity for understanding social prescribing. Early data suggests its impact extends beyond referred individuals to families and communities but, there are considerable variations in GP referral rates and several individuals "drop-out". Through collaborating with WtW we propose a multi-sited ethnographic approach to explore the experiences and meanings of WtW for those involved. Focusing on individuals referred to WtW as well as primary care staff we aim to understand how use of the service is embedded in everyday processes and wider networks by observing engagement and exploring practices in different settings. "