More information
There is a bite-sized interactive e-learning session giving an overview of social prescribing on the NHS England All Our Health electronic learning for health portal (elfh Hub) at https://portal.e-lfh.org.uk/Component/Details/571333. It includes key evidence, data and signposts to trusted resources to help prevent illness, protect health and promote wellbeing.10
It can also be useful to be aware of the community’s socio-economic needs with local information available via the local authority or VCSE organisations including those which are faith-based. Data is also published by the Office for Health Improvement & Disparities, part of the Department of Health and Social Care.
Official government figures relating to public health and health trends in England are currently published under the Fingertips public health data collections (https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/). The data includes wider determinants of health such as social, economic and environmental factors impacting on health and can be used to benchmark local areas against regional or national figures.23
It includes aspects such as economic activity and employment, air pollution, housing affordability, fuel poverty, traffic noise, and fast-food outlet/public house density. Indicators on loneliness, social isolation, social capital, and wellbeing are included in the Mental Health profiles.10,23