Lincolnshire GPs Boost Prescriptions for Nature and Community Engagement

NHS figures indicate a rise in medical practitioners in Lincolnshire recommending nature, outdoor pursuits, and community involvement as a strategy to address mental health conditions. This approach, known as social prescribing, links individuals with community organizations that offer various outdoor and voluntary programs. Professor Rob Poole, founder of The Centre for Mental Health and Society, has voiced criticism of this concept, stating it possesses “little evidence” to substantiate its application. Conversely, Dr. Divya Kuttappan from Parkside Medical Practice in Boston, Lincolnshire, frequently employs this method, asserting that “engaging in activities and being part of a community creates a new sense of purpose, which can’t be addressed by medicine alone”. Social prescribing is characterized as a “key component” within NHS England’s strategic framework, with an objective to refer 900,000 individuals during the 2023-24 period. The NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board reports that in Lincolnshire, the adoption of this practice has expanded significantly, from 128 individuals referred during a 2017-18 pilot phase to 4,584 referrals in the year concluding March 2024. Dr. Kuttappan further stated: “There is no one condition that we refer to social prescribing.” She continued: “We just get an idea by speaking to the patient that they would benefit from certain things other than the prescription that they normally have.” “I don’t think it is to avoid prescribing medication, it is to go alongside it.” “In some cases we can avoid prescribing medication just by encouraging them to engage in these activities.” Certain research indicates that this approach has resulted in an “improvement in mental wellbeing” for patients. However, Professor Poole, who instructs in social psychiatry at Bangor University, co-authored a publication that posits “little evidence for its effectiveness”. He commented: “It’s a very large investment and we would want to see a large public health gain. There is no grounds to believe that there will be a large public health gain.” Professor Poole additionally criticized the policy, suggesting it primarily benefits the middle class and stating it is not going to “help the people who most need help”. Peter Gregory, who experienced mental health challenges following his father’s passing last year, represents a patient who has directly observed the advantages, having acknowledged that “everything just seemed to fall apart”. He recounted: “I didn’t want to go out, or see or speak to anybody.” “Through the doctors I spoke to a nice lady who helped me get in contact with Willoughby Road Allotments. They helped and supported me through this.” “Now, it’s made me decide to try and start my own gardening business.” “You might not want to try it, but just try it, try persevering with it and carrying on. It’s definitely worth it. It has helped me such a lot.”