The annual evaluation report provides an updated assessment of the social and economic impact of the Rotherham Social Prescribing Service between September 2012 and March 2015. This ground-breaking social prescribing service has been evaluated by Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research (CRESR) at Sheffield Hallam University since its inception.  

Overview

The Rotherham Social Prescribing Service provides support to patients most in need in local communities across Rotherham.  Advisors from the voluntary and community sector joined forces with integrated care teams in Rotherham GP practices to link patients with a long-term condition and at risk of hospital admission, with activities of support in the community. Activities include; self-management programmes, benefits advice, befriending, dementia support and advocacy.

The concluding chapter of the report highlights the findings from the evaluation to date including:

• There is growing evidence that Social Prescribing can have positive effect on the use of urgent and emergency health services

•  Social Prescribing impacts positively on people's well-being

• There are number of cost-benefits to Social Prescribing, but the effect of these should be understood over a long-term timeframe

• There is growing evidence that Social Prescribing has a greater effect for people who are able to engage fully, and who continue to engage with the VCS beyond their initial 'social prescription'

• There are a number of wider benefits and outcomes for the local voluntary and community sector associated with the Rotherham Social Prescribing Service that mean it provides considerable added value

• Next steps for the evaluation moving forward

This annual evaluation report provides an updated assessment of the social and economic impact of the Rotherham Social Prescribing Service between September 2012 and March 2015. Reports describing the evaluation in more detail are now available to download

The Rotherham Social Prescribing Service for People with Long-Term Health Conditions: Annual Report Full Report  (PDF 1.09 MB)

The Rotherham Social Prescribing Service for People with Long-Term Health Conditions: Summary Report (PDF 289.01 KB)