Social prescribing by students: the design and delivery of a social prescribing scheme by medical students in general practice

ABSTRACT

Background

Social prescribing is a means of enabling primary care professionals to refer people to a range of local, non-clinical services. Medical students at a large GP surgery in Corby designed, implemented and led a social prescribing service for the practice’s patients. Through the project students gained an understanding of social prescribing in an authentic setting.

Methods

During a 12 week GP placement students collated information on local organisations, charities and schemes into a social prescribing directory. A clinic was set up and a social prescribing protocol created to enable suitable patients to be referred to the service. Students educated staff and collected feedback on how the service should run. Patients referred to the service were seen by medical students, who identified suitable social prescribing opportunities. Follow up was arranged to encourage patient engagement with services. The student-led service has been successfully integrated with the work of the new PCN link worker.

Outcome

Medical students were able successfully identify social prescribing opportunities for patients referred to them in primary care. Experential learning enabled them to develop an understanding of social prescribing and its place in healthcare.

Discussion

Medical students successfully designed and delivered a social prescribing intervention providing authentic educational experience in real-life clinical practice. The introduction of a Primary Care Network link worker enhanced this work and student input has continued in the ongoing service. It is hoped the scheme will be rolled out across the Primary Care curriculum in Leicester.

KEYWORDS:

• Social prescribing
• medical students
• primary care
• service development

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.