Context
Social prescribing link workers are connecting patients with preventive community support, but some organisations like Veterans Outdoors and Vounder Therapy Garden lack funding despite identified cost-effectiveness.
Question
I agree that social prescribers do a fantastic job. I recently met members of Veterans Outdoors near Totnes, and visited the Vounder Therapy Garden at the Eden Project through the parliamentary knowledge schemes. Those organisations are doing incredible work, turning lives around, particularly for those with mental health challenges, but their projects receive absolutely no funding, although the National Academy for Social Prescribing has identified a return of up to £8.56 for every £1 invested. How does the Department expect them to survive and broaden their reach without funding? Given their cost-effectiveness, will the Government commit themselves not just to funding the link worker and the social prescriber, but to encouraging integrated care boards to fund those amazing projects?
Answer from Stephen Kinnock
I am sure that the hon. Lady welcomes the £3 million that we are granting to the National Academy for Social Prescribing. Social prescribing needs to be commissioned locally by integrated care boards, and I am confident that as and when it delivers valuable services, those services will continue to be commissioned by ICBs.
Not addressed: Commitment to encourage integrated care boards to fund cost-effective community projects identified through social prescribing.
How: Social Prescribing Needs To Be Commissioned Locally By Integrated Care Boards
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