On Social Prescribing Day, it is often good to reflect on what social prescribing has achieved since we got involved. I have been a Link Worker for Southwest Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. I helped to develop a Social Prescribing Service under an NHS new model of care programme. As well as teaching a level 3 Social Prescribing Qualification, I am a committee member for the National Social Prescribing Network, which led me into a regional role for NHSE delivering social prescribing learning and development opportunities since 2018.
I often meet Link Workers in peer support who are worried about patients on their case load; checking with their peers have a covered everything? Did I miss something? How would you have handled this problem? Link Workers in peer support want to know they have done their best for the patients. It’s very moving and something I am proud to be a part of.
For the last year I have been delivering Social Prescribing Peer Support for Link Workers in Northeast and North Cumbria, and also in West Yorkshire through Primary Care Support by KERA. This is where I met a special Link Worker called Alec Gray. I often feel inspired by people who undertake social prescribing roles. People who come into social prescribing care about people and communities. I think that’s why I came into the role, and I have yet to meet someone in a social prescribing role who was not passionate about making a difference to the patients on their case load.
Alec got in touch with me about a poem that a patient has written about him. The Poem is entitled ‘Some heroes drive Skodas’. You should watch the video where Alec reads this poem here.
When I reflect on what we have achieved in the last year by providing peer support, learning and development opportunities in Yorkshire, I feel grateful to have met Alec. It was a privilege to have read the poem written about him by one of his patients. I am still blown away to hear Alec talk about the difference he makes to this, and other patients; to have the brilliant Link Workers like Alec joining peer support and online webinars, sharing their stories insights and experience with others.
Happy Social Prescribing Day everyone, it’s still an absolute pleasure to still be part of this movement.
David Cowan
Managing Director
Kera Consultancy Ltd