Social prescribing / link worker information
What is Social Prescribing?
With the advice from of a Social Prescriber, you will be able to access services within your local community to help you improve your health and well being. See the video from Transformation Partners in Health and Care on the left to learn more..
Available support in the community:
- Fitness classes
- Arts, music, creative activities
- Emotional well being sessions
- Financial support
- Education and learning
- Lunch clubs
- Benefits advice
- Housing support
- Befriending
- Accessing specialist services
Who is it for?
Anyone over the age of 18+
The Social Prescriber can help you with:
- Social isolation
- Loneliness
- Emotional wellbeing
- Healthy lifestyle choices
- Getting out and about
- Life changing events such as birth, retirement and bereavement
- Long term health conditions
- Loss of confidence/purpose
- Poor health linked to housing or housing conditions
- Struggling with financial issues
- Accessing work, training or volunteering
- Caring for someone
What can I expect?
Help to improve health and well– being
With social prescribing you can:
- Improve your mental and physical health
- Meet new people
- Learn a new skill or participate in a new activity
- Increase self confidence and self esteem
- Have a better quality of life
- Get involved in your community
We are here to help you!
How can I access Social Prescribing?
It's simple... You can talk to the receptionist, any healthcare professional or your GP.
The Social Prescribers will contact you to make an appointment. The Social Prescriber can help you identify areas in your life where local activities and support could help you feel better, more confident or more able to manage your current situation and health.
First contact Physiotherapist (FCP)
Role of First Contact Physiotherapist (FCP)
The Role of First Contact physiotherapists (FCP's) in primary care is to assess patients with soft tissue, muscle and joint pain and support patients to decide on the most appropriate management pathway. FCPs are physiotherapists with expertise in the assessment and management of Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions.
Please see the video which has been produced by Health Education England which gives the overview demonstration of the efficacy of this service both in quality of outcomes as well as efficiency – people see the right person, in the right place, first time.
What problems can FCP help you with?
The FCP can see:
- All soft tissue injuries, sprains, strains, or sports injuries
- Arthritis – any joint
- Possible problems with muscles, ligaments, tendons, or bone
- Spinal pain including low back pain, mid-back pain and neck pain
- Spinal – related pain in arms or legs, including nerve symptoms e.g. pins and needles or numbness
- Changes to walking
- Post-orthopaedic surgery
Did You Know...?
You can now see a physiotherapist without going to a doctor first!
You can book with FCP directly if you have any of the above problems, without seeing a GP first. This can also help decrease the waiting time for you to be seen.
The physiotherapist will:
- Assess you and diagnose what’s happening
- Give expert advice on how to self-manage your condition
- Refer you to other services if needed
Enhanced Access
What is Enhanced Access Service
From Saturday 1st October 2022 the Extended Hours and Extended Access services merged into a new Enhanced Access service to be delivered at PCN level.
The new service will see local GP practices (Primary Care Networks) working together to offer patients evening and weekend appointments – that means you will be able to access a health professional at a time which is more convenient for you.
Primary Care Networks (PCNs) will be required to provide enhanced access appointments between the hours of 6.30 pm to 8 pm Mondays to Fridays and 9 am – 5 pm on Saturdays. As enhanced access will be delivered at a PCN level – not every practice has to be open during these hours.
Orion PCN - Enhanced Access
Our Enhanced access clinics are delivered from one central location - Westcotes Health Centre. There will be mixture of remote consultation and face to face appointments during the evening and saturdays.
Your GP Practice will offer you appointment at PCN Enhanced Access if one is available with a GP, ANP, Diabetic Specialist Nurse, Practice Nurse, Health Care Assistant or Phlebotomist depending on your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Will the healthcare professional have access to my medical records? YES, your practice is part of Orion PCN therefore our PCN clinical system are able to access medical records.
- How do I cancel appointment if I no longer wish to attend? - Please contact your GP Practice and they will be able to cancel your appointment.
- Are clinicians able to prescribe medication or refer to hospital, if I needed to? YES, our clinician are able to do both if appropriate.
