Will the Cabinet Secretary outline the Welsh Government's work around the Social Prescription Scheme, as mentioned in its Programme for Government 'Taking Wales Forward'?
Sources of non-clinical support, such as Book Prescriptions, Green Gyms or singing for health can play an important part in meeting an individual's health and wellbeing needs. Such services are often provided by the third sector and professionals are not always aware of them or their benefits. Social prescribing is about mechanisms which systematically link people to community-based wellbeing services.
Welsh Government has convened and attended a number of meetings to scope current activity and potential ways forward in terms of social prescribing. Public Health Wales is reviewing the evidence of how effective existing social prescribing models are over the coming months. Some initial reviews of evidence have already been received by officials. I have also discussed ways of increasing public and professional awareness of these wellbeing services with my Chief Medical Officer and national professional lead or primary care.
I will be making an announcement in the coming months as to how we will deliver on the commitment in Taking Wales Forward on developing a social prescribing pilot to promote mental health and wellbeing.