People registered with GP practices across four of Calderdale’s Primary Care Networks (PCNs) can now self-refer directly into PGPA’s social prescribing service online.
If you’re looking for support with things that are affecting your health and wellbeing, you can now visit the PGPA website and complete a short online form to refer yourself to a Social Prescribing Link Worker.
The service is available to registered patients in:
- Upper Calder Valley
- Lower Valley
- Central Halifax
- Calder & Ryburn
Once you’ve submitted the form, your details will be passed to the appropriate social prescribing team supporting your GP practice. A member of the team will then contact you to talk about your circumstances and the support that may be available to you.
What is social prescribing?
Sometimes, the things affecting our health and wellbeing need more than medicine or medical treatment.
Social Prescribing Link Workers can spend time with you to understand what matters to you, before connecting you with local groups, activities, services and practical support that could help.
This could include support with things such as:
- Feeling lonely or socially isolated
- Mental health and emotional wellbeing
- Bereavement
- Benefits or financial concerns
- Physical health and keeping active
- Getting more involved in your local community
- Support to live more independently
Depending on your needs, a Link Worker may also connect you with other services, such as counselling and talking therapies, occupational therapy, community and voluntary organisations, benefits advice or other health and wellbeing services.
How does it work?
Social Prescribing Link Workers are embedded within four of Calderdale’s PCNs and work closely with GP practices to provide personalised, holistic support.
Support is focused on what is important to you and helping you take the next steps. This might involve exploring local activities and services, finding practical support, building social connections or looking at ways to improve your health and wellbeing.
Link Workers usually support people for up to 12 sessions, either by telephone or in person, over a period of several months. The amount of support depends on your individual needs.
You can now refer yourself online
Previously, people could self-refer by contacting their GP practice. There is now an additional, simple online route through the PGPA website.
If you’re registered with a GP practice in Upper Calder Valley, Lower Valley, Central Halifax or Calder & Ryburn, you can complete the online self-referral form and the appropriate social prescribing team will get in touch.
Click here to self-refer to the social prescribing service.
Patients registered to a North Halifax Practice should contact their practice directly to access social prescribing.
Social prescribing is about finding the right mix of support, activities and connections to help you live well – and giving you the time and space to work out what could make a difference to you.