A social response to some of society’s most widespread problems – traditionally seen as issues requiring a medical solution – could see thousands of Scots take up activities like swimming, music and yoga.

SPRING social prescribing facilitates community-led projects where ‘social prescribers’ are based in local, experienced organisations at the heart of local communities.

This week a committee of MSPs turned their attention to social prescribing and its potential as an antidote to various health issues.

This includes what has become an ‘epidemic’ of loneliness affecting a growing number of people, young and old alike.

The largest programme of its kind in Scotland, SPRING is a partnership between Scottish Communities for Health and Wellbeing and the Healthy Living Centre Alliance.

Kathryn benefited from the SPRING service in Oban and Lorn – known locally as Health Options – after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s.

“Healthy options has changed my life, definitely” she says. “I was very depressed after being diagnosed…we had just retired – it was the worst news we could have had. When I first came here, I had a walking stick – I no longer use that anymore.

“It’s made me stronger, physically and mentally. The impact on my life has been amazing, just amazing.”

Having gone live in January 2019, the programme hopes to gather robust evidence of the impact of social prescribing as well as reduce pressure on NHS services, particularly in general practice.

Ten community health organisations have been selected across rural and urban areas in Scotland to support 4000 people access social prescribing over the next three years.  

Co-production of a social prescription – whether that’s attending yoga classes or joining a music group – gives participants ‘control over their own health journey’.

Progress is monitored and recorded on a tailored online system where referrers (GPs and primary care staff) refer patients directly to a social prescriber who then makes contact. 

Referrers, the prescriber and the patient can log in online and track progress.

Statistics released this week confirm there has been little change in the percentage of adults and children who are overweight or obese in Scotland.

Many health problems are associated with being overweight, including an increased risk of developing cancer or heart disease.

Meanwhile antidepressant prescriptions have risen by 48% in the last decade and continue to be more common in poorer areas.

With such trends in mind, the importance of getting more people involved in activities that encourage socializing and being active is growing.

The Scottish Parliament’s health and sport committee this week heard of a “phenomenally successful” initiative in a retail centre in Edinburgh that encourages shoppers to try their hand at ping-pong, sometimes for the first time in years.

Although most activities that come under the heading of social prescriptions are seemingly inexpensive interventions, today’s tight budget environment has led to warnings against any expectation that third and voluntary sector organisations could, on current budgets, facilitate social prescribing on the grander, more transformative scale advocates like SPRING believe is needed if a healthier Scotland is to come to fruition.