The Intervention

Ways to Wellness social prescribing is based in the West of Newcastle upon Tyne and is a service aimed at helping people manage long term health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes. People access the service from their GP surgery, where they are referred to a trained Link Worker. The Link Worker supports people to make healthier lifestyle choices, improve their health, self-care and quality of life. Social prescribing is open to people aged 40 to 74 year.

When the Link Worker first meets with a client they will discuss healthier lifestyle options with each person individually and help them to plan positive health behaviour changes. Link Workers will also provide information about other community services and support people to attend these services.

Why is Social Prescribing needed?

Busy health professionals can find it difficult to provide the full range of support that is necessary for people with long term conditions. These services involve individuals and communities more directly in the management of their own health conditions and support them to adopt healthier behaviours whilist taking account of other social factors that impact on health such as welfare benefits, debts and housing.

Although there are many social prescribing initiatives across the UK, most of the evidence about the impact of social prescribing comes from small scale studies. These studies show that social prescribing is a promising initiative, but there is a lack of clear evidence from large numbers of people about the impact on health and wellbeing and cost effectiveness.

What are the aims of this research?

In this evaluation of social prescribing we plan to find out about the effect of the programme, how much it costs, and how it effects other family members and the wider community. In order to do this effectively, we will be focusing on people using the service who have a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. We will use a number of different research methods, known as ‘mixed methods’. There will be three work packages each looking at a different area of the research. The research began in July 2018 and will be completed by the end of 2020.

• Effect of link worker social prescribing on health & quality of life
• Whether link worker social prescribing provides value for money
• How people interact with link worker social prescribing and the wider impacts of the service on them and their family.
• How link workers deliver this complex intervention

A full plain english summary can be found by clicking this link Plain English Summary ‌.

A full scientific summary can be found by clicking this link Scientific Summary‌.

Who is funding the research?

This research is funded by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Public Health Research Programme (16/122 Community groups and health promotion)

How can I find out the results?

The research findings will be publicly available on the project website and publicised through social media. As well as this, the research team will be informing research participants, Link workers, staff from the Voluntary and Community Sectors, the NHS and Local Government in a range of formats that will include leaflets, presentations and papers in peer reviewed academic journals. A full report will be available from the National Institute of Health Research.

Why is the evaluation important?

The results of the evaluation will help decide whether this type of programme should be funded in the future.