What is Social Prescribing?

Social Prescribing is connecting people to activities, groups and support that improve health and wellbeing. It recognises that our health and wellbeing is affected by many different factors that can’t be treated by medicine or GPs in isolation.

Credit Healthy London Partnership

Credit National Academy for Social Prescribing

In Hertfordshire, HCNS the Hertfordshire Hospital and Community Navigation Serivce, provides a single integrated social prescribing service throughout the county through a partnership of voluntary sector organisations working closely together to improve outcomes for local people.

The Dacorum partner to HCNS is Dacortium, a consortium of local charities including Community Action Dacorum, Citizens Advice Dacorum, Centre in the Park, Mediation, Relate, DENS and Druglink who have been involved with social prescribing in Hertfordshire since 2014 when “Herts Help in the West” one of the UK’s first designated social prescribing schemes launched.

Through its countywide network of Link Workers based in hospitals, GP surgeries and community settings, HCNS works with people to help them explore how to live a happier and healthier lifestyle.

HCNS offers support face to face, on the phone by email or text or video chat.