Staff at Compass Support are working in partnership with doctors and medical practitioners across the constituency to encourage residents to pursue alternative approaches to conventional medicine.

Social Prescribing aims to provide personalised holistic support to individuals as well as lessen the strain on existing National Health Service services in the local area.

Holding clinics at GP surgeries across the area, Isobel Haywood and Lucy Davis, are keen for people in Castle Vale, Erdington and Stockland Green to consider Social Prescribing as an alternative and holistic route to improving health and wellbeing.

“Are you feeling lonely or struggling with your mental health?”, they ask.

“Are you concerned with your finances or housing situation? Do you want support in finding employment or other opportunities?

“These are all things that the North Birmingham Social Prescription (NBSP) team can support you with,” they state.

Social Prescribing is a means to connect patients to non-medical resources for practical and emotional support, designed to boost quality of life.

“We can offer individuals an alternative route to prescribed medicine, as we believe components of health and wellbeing are often correlated. Through aiding individuals to navigate their health and the non-clinical resources available within the community, Social Prescribing benefits not only the patient, but the GP’s by reducing demand for appointments and providing alternative options for primary care.”

Results show this innovative pathway leads to increased patient satisfaction accessing local, community-based services; with the ultimate goal of enabling patients to live the best life possible.

The NBSP service is delivered at six practices across Erdington and Stockland Green including Reservoir Road, Kingsbury Road, Dr Khuroo’s, Poplars Surgery, Shah Zaman’s and Sutton Road.

We help patients to access a variety of organisations and services; including arts, physical activity, education, volunteering, befriending and self-help. They can also receive support with employment, benefits, housing, managing long-term health conditions, debt management, legal advice, and parenting problems.

For more details on how social prescribing could help you and the services being delivered by the North Birmingham Social Prescription team, please call Isobel Haywood or Lucy Davis on 0121 748 8111 or 07841 067636.

Alternatively, you can email them at: Isobel.Haywood@compass-support.org.uk or Lucy.Davis@compass-support.org.uk