Social Prescribing Link Workers (SPLWs) are NHS health professionals based in GP practices who help you connect with community activities, groups and services to support health and wellbeing beyond medical care. They work with you to identify what matters to you and create a plan with a defined number of appointments. SPLWs can refer you to local services to help with non‑medical needs such as loneliness, housing and homelessness, money problems and benefits guidance, support for carers, drugs and alcohol, help using computers or getting online, domestic abuse, support for older people, access to food and to food banks, gambling, and low‑level mental health support (for example anxiety, low mood and stress). Referrals are usually made through your GP or clinician; some GP practices may allow self‑referral. Social prescribing is not a drop‑in service—you’ll have a set plan and a defined number of sessions, with referrals to local services as needed.
Service statistics
Usually replies in
9 hours
86%
of referrals accepted
Categories:
Benefits advice and assessment
Food banks
Financial advice and support
Basic necessities (food/clothes)
Helping with money
Support for carers
Support with employment
Support with housing
Volunteering
Service access criteria:
18+ without complex mental health needs; Only patients registered with Star Lane, Custom House Surgery and St Luke's Medical Centre
helping with money, support with housing, benefits advice and assessment, financial advice and support, support for carers, support with anxiety/depression, food banks, volunteering, support with employment, south one newham primary care network, regional
Who can refer:
Professional referrals only