Leighton Buzzard now has a full Social Prescribing service which no longer requires a GP referral – patients can now self-refer.

Social Prescribing is a service to help people improve their health and well-being by finding out what matters to them. A Social Prescriber works 1:1 with patients to support them to find solutions to social, emotional and practical needs.

Social Prescribers are currently working over the telephone but will hopefully be back out in the Leighton Buzzard community soon. Examples of things people have wanted help with are:

• Feelings of loneliness or isolation
• Social care support
• Advice on how to access benefit support
• Low mood or moderate depression
• Long term health conditions, e.g. Type 2 Diabetes or weight management
• Advice on exploring work options
• Wanting to feel more fulfilled and feeling read to make change

Contact with a Social Prescriber gives patients an hour to talk about themselves, be listened to and heard. Eight different areas of wellbeing are explored to help patients discover what matters the most to them. If you or someone you know is over 18 and would benefit from speaking with a Social Prescriber, please visit www.yourwellbeingbedfordshire.org.uk/help/one-to-one-support-request and a friendly voice will call you to tell you more about the service so you can decide if you do want to work with them.