Hansard

I am a strong believer in social prescribing. It was Brian Whittle and I who pushed for the committee to inquire into the issue, because I have seen what a big difference it can make in people’s lives. I know how passionate he is about the issue, so I can understand that he is frustrated, but—in all honesty—gaunae cheer up a wee bit and look at some of the positive things that we are doing? There is so much that we can look at. I have found in life, that instead of sitting and moaning about everything and snarling at people, you get a hell of a lot more done with a wee a smile on your face, when you are trying to change things.

On a positive note, I agree with social prescribing for two very distinct reasons: one is the radical difference that it can make in people’s lives and the other is that I believe that it is the way forward.

Most of us agree that physical activity, sport and exercise are vitally beneficial to the wellbeing of us all, and that they can be life changing, which is why social prescribing is so important and plays a significant role in preventative care for health and wellbeing.

There was much debate in the committee about the term “social prescribing”—whether it explains the concept properly and people understand what it is. The term itself has been around since the 1990s and means that instead of clinical intervention, a doctor can prescribe physical activity, volunteering or a community activity as treatment, rather than more traditional methods of health care.

Signposting from primary care to a range of community-based activities has been shown to encourage people to seek their own solutions—which is vital—to make connections within their community and to receive support for their overall wellbeing and not just one condition.

I heard at the committee meeting earlier today that a GP has prescribed a football season ticket. Football was mentioned earlier on, and it was said that although it might help a person with loneliness, it might create other issues.

As has been stated, the 2019 “UK Chief Medical Officers’ Physical Activity Guidelines” sends a very clear message, which is worth restating. The document says:

“If physical activity were a drug, we would refer to it as a miracle cure, due to the great many illnesses it can prevent and help treat.”

The same conclusion was reached by the Health and Sport Committee in our inquiry on the ability of social prescribing to make an impact on physical and mental wellbeing. We agreed that there is no doubt that social prescribing can contribute massively to the healthcare system and that

“Addressing accessibility to, and awareness of, community and voluntary schemes will improve individuals’ health and wellbeing outcomes, begin to shift the balance of care from acute to community settings and help achieve national outcomes.”

More important, social prescribing puts the patient at the centre and ensures long-term solutions for on-going issues.

Although social prescribing can directly improve waiting times, help to make improvements in unscheduled care and ease pressures on accident and emergency services in hospitals, the committee explored the challenges that exist in using those approaches and increasing awareness and access to local services. It is important that we, as members of the Scottish Parliament, help to raise awareness of organisations in our constituencies.

As many members know, I am not one to be asked twice to mention Paisley. When I mentioned Paisley earlier today, I received a tweet from someone who said that George Adam deserves a medal for creativity in weaving—see what he did there?—Paisley and St Mirren into a full spectrum of topics. I will continue with that today.

Social prescribing is being successfully utilised across Renfrewshire. One example that comes to mind is the community connectors project, which has helped more than 1,000 people across Renfrewshire by issuing cultural and social prescriptions. The programme aims to free up GPs’ time so that they can focus on acute medical conditions, and it is working for hundreds of my constituents across Paisley. All 29 GP surgeries in Renfrewshire have signed up to have a social prescriber, who works with patients for whom medical intervention is not necessarily the most appropriate route. Patients can be referred by their prescriber to nearby social and cultural organisations to get the targeted support that they need, and to help them to feel part of the community.

Although the work of GPs and our NHS is undoubtedly vital, for many people 10 minutes in the doctor’s surgery is not enough. When a person has had a physical or mental health issue, getting back out into the community after a period of isolation is often very difficult for them, and many people simply do not know where to turn for support. Programmes such as the community connectors programme can help people to access services—from counselling services to swimming clubs, to relaxation sessions, to walking groups—and can help with physical and mental health concerns.

I could not, of course, continue my speech without mentioning that the St Mirren FC community trust runs a get fit programme. The “football fans in training” programme runs for 13 weeks and ensures that people have the opportunity to change their life and move forward.

I am aware that the Scottish Government always focuses on people, so it is great to see continued emphasis being placed on supporting the whole person. For example, the Scottish Government’s “A More Active Scotland: Scotland’s Physical Activity Delivery Plan” demonstrates how overall health and wellbeing initiatives can make a difference across portfolios.

We all have to work together, and we need to trust one another. The Scottish Government, the NHS, GPs, local authorities and providers all need to trust each other in order to ensure that we can make Scots better by finding a better way to help them.