Dance classes on prescription to help people feeling lonely
GP surgeries could soon be prescribing patients dance lessons to in a bid to improve wellbeing and guard against loneliness.
The unconventional approach has won the backing of Sandwell councillors this week after being told social isolation and loneliness can adversely affect people’s health.
The ‘social prescribing’ network will employ ten link workers based in primary care networks to connect lonely people to community groups and activities for practical and emotional support.
The programme is being supported by Sandwell Council which will provide a database of community organisations running activities from choirs to local history groups, which people can be referred to.
Lisa McNally, the authority’s director of public health, told members of the health and adult social care scrutiny board that social isolation can impact delay discharges from hospital and lead to permanent admissions into care homes.
Knock-on effect
She said: “If we can improve social isolation, if we can tackle that then it will have an amazing knock-on effect right through other health and social outcomes.
“Looking at the effect of loneliness and social isolation on health outcomes it has a profound impact on life expectancy, on non-elective admissions and on both the on-set and the progression of long term conditions.”
She added: “My contention is that not only when we address social isolation do we have a profound positive impact on the individual and their well being but we also have a profound impact on health and social care resources. It is a false economy not to address it.”
Councillors were told the service would start in September and link workers will operate from libraries and other community centres as well as surgeries.
The scheme will be funded from the council’s better care fund and by Sandwell and West Birmingham Clinical Commissioning Group.
It is hoped that by January next year, 1,200 patients a month will be helped to break out of their loneliness.
