Patients attending the hospital can often present with issues that require non-medical intervention such as social support, engagement in fitness activities, and methods for overcoming addiction. Social prescribing empowers people to take control of their health and wellbeing through referral to non-medical ‘link workers’ who spend time with the patient and take a holistic approach to their requirements, connecting them to community groups and statutory services for practical and emotional support.

Social prescribing can help strengthen community and personal resilience, and reduces health inequalities by addressing the wider determinants of health, such as debt, poor housing and physical inactivity, by increasing people’s active involvement with their local communities.

It particularly works for people with long-term conditions (including support for mental health), for people who are lonely or isolated, or have complex social needs which affect their wellbeing. Link workers support existing groups to be accessible and sustainable and help people to start new community groups, working collaboratively with all local partners.

St. James’s Hospital trialed the first ‘in hospital’ social prescribing coordinator role in Ireland under the Sláintecare Integration Fund. The success of that program has led to the requirement for this position.

This role will involve

Prof David Robinson;
Phone: 01 416 2619

Or